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MAGYAR GRAMMAR 



• HUNGARIAN LANGUAGE 

DEPARTMENT - 























































U-s. Cc ~.^ 



MAGYAR GRAMMAR 


by 


BSIft C • LAjJ.'-I ) Ah«D • 

Assistant Professor 
Hungarian Department 


i 


Copyright, 1950 by B.C« Maday 





This Magyar (Hungarian) Grammar is designed to serve 
as reference grammar for students of the Army Language School. 
It is written for students whose aim is to learn to speak 
I Magyar and who need a handy summary of the structural 
features of the language with copious examples. 

The book is not intended to be complete, nor is it 
intended as a self-contained teaching device. Students must 
use it only as an adjunct to classwork. 

It will be found most useful as a summary, for it 
contains features which are presented in class through 
oral drill. 

, The grammar is divided into four parts. The First 

Part acquaints the students with the alphabet of the 
Magyar language, with the pronunciation and intonation. 

The Second Part covers the parts of speech, and the Third 
Part deals with the usage of the parts of speech in sen¬ 
tences. The Fourth Part outlines the syntax and the Magyar 
word-order in detail. 







C ONTENTS 


FOREWORD.. 

CONTENTS .iii 


PART ONE 
PRONUNCIATION 


INTRODUCTION. 

I. THE MAGYAR ALPHABET . 

Vowels. 

Vowel Harmony . . . . 
Consonants. . . . . . 
Chart of Letters. . . 

II. STRESS AND INTONATION 


2 

5 

5 

8 

13 

14 


PART TWO 
PARTS OF SPEECH 


INTRODUCTION. 

I. VERBS . 

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs ....... 

Active Verbs... 

Passive Verbs . 

Reflexive Verbs . 

The Conjugation of Verbs.. . . . 

The Number and the Person of the Subject. • . • 

The Person of the Object.. 

The "I-THEE" form . 

The Mood of the Action. 

The Time of the Action... 

The "IK" Verbs. 

Chart of Verbal Moods and Verbal Tenses . . . . 

Word Formation from Verbs . 

Infinitives . . . 

Participles ••••• . . 

Gerunds. • 

Chart of Verbal Derivatives. •••• 

Examples of Conjugation •••••••••••• 

Verb Building ..... . • 

Forming Substantives form Verbs . 


16 

19 

19 

21 

21 

22 

23 

23 

24 

2f 

26 

28 

30 

31 

32 
32 
32 
3 ^ 

35 

43 

47 


































iv 


II. NOUNS . 

The Proper Noun . 

Order of Words in Names ... 

The Common Noun • • . 

Noun Building . • . 

III. ADJECTIVES . 

Types of Adjectives . 

Chart of Adjectives . 

IV. TERMS OF QUANTITY . 

Chart of Quantity Terms . • . 

V. PRONOUNS . 

Personal Pronouns ...... 

Reflexive Pronouns. 

Reciprocal Pronouns . 

Possessive Pronouns . 

Demonstrative Pronouns. . . . 
Interrogative Pronouns. . . . 

Relative Pronouns . 

Indefinite Pronouns . 

Chart of Pronouns ...... 

VI. ARTICLES . 

VII. ADVERBS . 

Fom and Derivation of Adverbs 
Independent Adverbs • • • • • 
Postpositions ..•••••• 

Prefix of the Verb. • • . • • 
Adverbs formed by suffixes • 
Gerunds ••••• . 

VTII.CONJUNCTIONS . 

IX. INTERJECTIONS . 


PART THREE 
PARTS OF SENTENCES 


INTRODUCTION. 

Chart Showing Parts of Sentences 

I. THE PREDICATE . 

The Number of the Predicate . • 

The Person of the Predicate . . 

II. THE SUBJECT . 

The Indefinite Subject .... 

III. THE OBJECT . 

The Possessive Object . 

The Suffixless Object . 

IV. THE ADVERB . 

The Adverb of Place . 

The Adverb of Time. 

The Adverb of Manner. 

The Adverb of Cause and Reason. 


103 

106 

107 


vovo^vovovo vovovo oooo°° oo^ooooo-o-va-Na-o-va-va-^i*^ aNONONCTNONON^nvA^^nvnvnvrivn^i-^^^ 

ro HVO 00VH, u> H O ONON-Mjo OMD C 0 OVU>U> IV) VO VO SS 















































V 


V. 


THE 

THE 


The Adverb of Provision *.. 108 

The Adverb of Means • • .. • 109 

The Adverb of Number.109 

The Adverb of Comparison. 110 

The Adverb of Measure ••••••»•• 110 

The Adverb of Degree.110 

Other Adverbs ... . . Ill 

Chart of Adverbs, ,•«•«.»•••• 113 

THE ATTRIBUTE.114 

The Attribute of Quality.114 

The Attribute of Quantity 11? 

The Attribute of Possession •••••• 116 

The Personal Suffix of the Possession • 118 
FUNCTION OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH (chart). 13-9 
FUNCTION OF THE PARTS OF SENTENCES(chart)120 


PART FOUR 
WORD ORDER 


THE ORDER OF WORDS.122 

INDEX.12? 


















- • ■ ’o Lt-i ' ' ~ 


HI rto ■ ■ ■ 3 Sunt' 1 „ 


trrvf ; 









PART ONE 


PRONUNCIATION 





2 


INTRODUCTION 

English speakers will find the Magyar language, like 
Hungarian cooking, a piquant mixture of familiar and 
strange elements, presented in familiar and strange ways,* * 
Among familiar things we shall find a lack of gender , 
carried, however, much further than in English: there is 
no "he, she, it", but one word for all three. There is in 
fact, no grammatical gender at all in Magyar, 

Among unfamiliar things there is the drastic simp¬ 
licity of numbers; for instance, Magyar maintains that the 
quantity-term is sufficient to show plurality: HAT EMBER 
ALL, literally "six man stands". 

There is little trouble with spelling and pronun¬ 
ciation in Magyar . English for instance, has several 

pronunciation of -ough- z rough, through, cough, though, 
thorough, ought . Magyar is a phonetic language, and 
almost each word is pronounced as spelled. 

The vocabulary of Magyar will be strange to most 

*) The Introduction and Chapter I is partly extracted from 
Arthur H. Whitney*s Colloquial Hungarian . London, 1943. 
Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co. Ltd. 










3 


students, though a number of words are borrowings or 
"visitors" from some other languages i.e. Latin, German• 


Slavic, Turkish, English, etc. 


For example: 

Magyar 

Magyar 

Magyar 

Magyar 

Magyar 

Magyar 


PARADICSOM ( paradise) 
MUSZAJ (must) 

ASZTAL (table) 

PAPUCS (slipper) 

KAVE ( coffee ) 

CSEKK (check) 


Latin PARADISUM 
German MUSS 
Slav STOL 
Turkish PABUC 
French CAFE 
English CHECK 


The difficulty of the unfamiliar vocabulary is 


lessened very appreciably by the fact that there are very 

few Magyar words of more than one syllable which can not 

be broken down into small elements, each with its own 

meaning, used in the same sense in other words. Thus the 

Magyar word SZAGTALANIT0SZER deodorant is built up thus : 

SZAG (smell, odor) 

SZAGTALAN, (odorless) 

SZAGTALANJT (deodorize) 

SZAGTALANJTtf (deodorizing) 

SZAGTALANITCSZER (deodorant) 


All these syllables can be used in a vast number of 
other words, e.g. the syllable SZAG gives among other words 
SZAGLAS (scent), SZAGLASZ (sniff), SZAGLIK (smelling), 
SZAGOsfT (to perfume), etc. 

The principle of vowel agreement will be new to many 
students. Magyar vowels are divided into front and back 
vowels, and a Magyar word usually contains only one class 
of vowel. 






- 4 - 


Another striking characteristic of Magyar is its 
agglutinative character: large number of grammatical 
relationships, for which English uses separate words, are 
expressed in Magyar by means of syllables attached to, 
or inserted in, another word, e.g. HAZ (house), HAZA- 
IMBAN (in my house), HAZAIMBA (into my houses),etc* 


CHAPTER I 


THE MAGYAR ALPHABET 

In Magyar spelling every letter represents only 
one sound. There are 38 vowels and consonants in the 
Magyar A-B-C. 


THE VOWELS 

a,a,e,e,i,f,o,6,S,6,u,u,U,u 

A: short, very like English "a" in "talk”."always" but 
shorter. 

Examples: BANK (bank), AD (gives), ABLAK (window) 
A: long. Very close to English "a” in "father". Examples 
ALL (he stands), HAZ (house), TABLA (board). 

E: short, lik* English "e" in "pet". Examples; EZ (this) 
PEL (up), KEL (he rises). 

6: long, like English "a" in "gate", but not diphthongized. 

Examples: EN (I), K&Z (hand), KERD&S (question). 

I: short, like a shortened version of English "ee" in 

"tee". Examples: KI (whd , I GEN (yes), ITT (here). 
I: long, a long version of the above.Examples: fR (he 
writes), PAPIR (paper). 






- 6 - 


0. short, like the first ”o” in "co-operation”• Examples: 
BOR (wine), OTT (there). 

6: long, very like English "o” in ”polio”, but not 

diph^ongized. Examples: J 6 (good), <5RA (clock). 

5: short, a vowel, which is not close to any vowel of 

"standard” American English. Examples: FOLD (earth), 
OT (five). 

5: long form of the preceding vowel. Examples: NO (woman), 
KETTO (two). 

U: short, like ”oo” in "boot”. Example: TUD (he knows), 
UTAS (traveler). 

6: long, like English ”u” in "rule”, or ”oo" in "fool”. 

Examples: UT (road), FIU (boy). 

U: short, a vowel which is not close to any vowel in 
English. Examples: OT (he strikes), FOL (ear). 

U: long, a long version of the preceding vowel. Examples: 
F0 (grass), Glrffelf (ring). 

The long vowels, which are always marked by accents, 
are pronounced about twice as long as the short vowels. 

Short vowels: a, e, i, o, u, U 
Long vowels: a, e, f, <5, li, (i 

The difference between the short and long vowels 
is important, because it sometimes is the only difference 
between words. For example: 



HAT (six) MEG (plus) KOR (age) 5Rt)LT (he rejoiced) 

HAT (back) M&G (yet) K0R (disease) ORtJLT (madman) 

VOWEL HARMONY 

Magyar vowels are classed as ’’front" and "back" 
vowels. The former are produced toward the front, the 
latter toward the back of the mouth. 

Front vowels: e, e, i, 1, <5, 6, U, u 

Back vowels: a, a, o, 6 , u, d, 

An important feature of Magyar is the building of 
words by suffixes. Most suffixes have two or three forms, 
which differ in the vowels. The speaker chooses the form 
which has a vowel most similar to the last vowel of the 
word to which it will be added. Thus: 

FOG (tooth), KEFE (brush), -VAI, -VEL (with) 

FOGKEFE (toothbrush), FOGKEF&VEL (with a toothbrush) 

The form-VEL is used because its vowel, which is a 
front vowel, ’'harmonizes’ 1 with the last vowel of the word 
FOGKEFE, which also is a front vowel. 

But note that when two nouns are combined to form a 
compound word, they do not change their vowels. Thus, 
FOGKEFE. And no change is made in foreign words which are 
introduced into Magyar. Thus, PROFESSZOR (professor). 






- 8 - 


There are three exceptions to the vowel harmony: 

1 6, I t I, occurs also in the back-vowel words. 

2 There is no vowel harmony in compound words. 

3 There is no vowel harmony in foreign words. 


THE CONSONANTS 


b f c,cs,d,f,g,gy,h,j,k,l,ly,m,n,ny,p,r t s,sz,t,ty,v,z,zs, 


B: like English "b", but without aspiration. Examples: 

BABA (baby), EMBER (man). 

C: like English "ts" in "hats". Examples: CIGARETTA 
(cigarette),TANC (dance). 

CS: like English "ch" in "church". Examples: CSILLAG 
(star), CSUK (he closes). 

D: like English "d" in "do", without aspiration. Examples: 
AD (he gives), IDO (time). 

F: as in English. Examples: FA (tree). Ft) (head). 

G: like English "g" in "go", but without aspiration. 
Examples: AG (branch), MAGA (you). 

GY: like a "d" pronounced with the tongue pressed against the 
upper gum-ridge, and the teeth and lips apart. It is 
close to "d" in "duty". Examples: AGY (brain), MEGY 
Che goes). 

H: as in English "he" at the beginning of a word or 
syllable. Examples: HAD (army), BOLHA (flee); but 
silent at the end of a word. Examples: CSEH (Czech). 




9 


J: like English "y" in "yet". Examples: J<5 (good), 

BAJ (trouble). 

K: like English "k" in "look", but without aspiration. 
Examples: KALAP (hat), KfeK (blue). 

L: like English "l" in "lean", with the tip of the 

tongue held lightly against the back of the upper 
gum-ridge. Examples: LAP (page), LAB (foot). 

LY: same pronunciation as Magyar "j". Examples; HELY 
(place), LYUK (hole). 

M: like English "m" in "man"• Examples: MA (today), 

KEM (spy). 

N: like English "n" in "never”• Examples: NEM (no), 

NAGY (big). 

NY: pronounced with the tongue pressed against the hard 
plate. Somewhat resembles the "ny" in the English 
Word "canyon". Examples: NYELV (tongue), NYAK (neck) 

P: like English "p" in "put", but without aspiration. 
Examples: PAP (priest), APA (father). 

R: produced by a flick of the tongue-tip against the 
upper gum-ridge, like Scottish "r". Examples: 

RANG (rank), BOR (wine). 

S: like English "sh" in "shoe". Examples: £s (and), 

ISKOLA (school). 

SZ: like English "s" in "sun". Examples: SZ6 (word). 


SZEM (eye) 


- 10 


T: like English ”t" in "too", but without aspiration. 

Examples: AT (through* across, over), TE (thou), 

TY: this sound has the same relation to "t M as "gy" has 
to "d". It is a palatalized ”t”, a ”t" followed 
immediately by the sound of Magyar "j". Examples: 
ATYA (father), KUTYA (dog). 

V: as in English "verb". Examples; V&R (blood), £v (year), 
Z: as in English "zoo”• Examples: EZ (this), ZAJ (noise), 
ZS: the ”s” in English "measure” or the ”g” in "rouge”. 
Examples: ZSEB (pocket), MUZSIKA (music). 

The letter Y never represents a vowel in Magyar. 

It occurs only in the digraphs GY, LY, NY, and TY. (Two 
letters which represent a single sound are called a 
digraph.) 

Exception : As the last letter in some family 
names, Y always has the value of Magyar ”i”. Other obso¬ 
lete spellings in family names with their values in 
modern spelling shown in parentheses, are: aa, aa, (a), 
cz (c), ch, ts (cs), oo, 06 ( 6 ), eo, e5, ew, (5,6), 
th (t), w (v). 

In Magyar a double consonant is pronounced different¬ 
ly from a single consonant. It is not pronounced twice, 
but is held twice as long as a single consonant. And since 
the difference in the pronunciation of single and double 
consonants serves to distinguish between words, it requires 





11 


close attention.- 


Examples: 


AD (he gives) ALOM (dream) 

HOZ (he brings)HALOM (hill) 

ADD ( give i ) ALLOM (I stand) 

HOZZ (bring) HALLOM (I hear) 


We also differentiate between the voiced and voice¬ 


less consonants . This is particularly important, as far as 
pronunciation is concerned. 

The following chart shows the voiced consonants and 
below each of them, its voiceless counterpart. When the ( 

combinations voiced and voiceless, or voiceless and voiced 
occur, the first consonant is pronounced with or without 
voice depending on whether the second is voiced or voice¬ 
less . 

Voiced consonants: b,-,—»d,g,gy,-,j,-,l,ly,m,n,ny,r,v,z,zs 

Voicless conso¬ 
nants : p,c,cs ,t ,k,ty»h, —»f ,sz,s 

For example (the pronunciation is indicated by the 
spelling in parentheses) : 

B becomes P in DARABKA (DARAPKA) 

D becomes T in ADHAT (ATHAT) 

G becomes K in RAGTAM CrAKTAM) 

V becomes F in EVF0RDUL<5 (6FFORDUL<5) 


















- 12 


Notes to pronunciation . 

1 If a word begins with & vowel it is generally- 
linked in pronunciation with the preceding word. Example 
NEM ESZEM LEVEST I do not eat soup , 

2 When dividing words, each consonant, or digraph 
goes with the following vowel. Consecutive vowels are 
separated. Examples: MA-GYAR, IS-KO-LA, I-DE-GEN, A-ME- 
RI-KA-I, etc. 



CHART OF LETTERS 


VOWELS: 


Short: 

a »e f i »o >o|U jU 

Long: 

a t e ,£ ,6 ,o,d t iX 

Front: 

e,e,i,£ ,o,6',U,ff 

Back: 

a ,a , o ,o ,u,u 

CONSONANTS: 


Short: 

b,c ,cs ,d,f ,gy,h, j ,k,l t ly ,m f n,ny,p,r ,s ,S 2 f» 

t,ty,v,zs 

Long: 

bb,cc »ccs,dd t ff »gg»ggy »hh,j j,kk,ll,lly,mm, 

nn,nny»pp,rr ,ss,ssz,tt,tty,vv,zz,zzs 


Voiced :b,— ,d,g,gyj»l,k,m,n,ny,r,v, z,zs 
Voiceless : p,c f cs,t*k,ty,h,— ,-,f,sz, s 










- 14 - 


CHAPTER II 
STRESS AND INTONATION 

In the Magyar language the stress is always on the 
first syllable of the word. Examples: 

MA’GYAR KA'TONA MA'GYARORSZAG IS'KOLA 
Generally speaking, sentences which contain simple 
statements are pronounced with descending intonation. 
Examples: 

MA SZEP AZ IDO. (Today the weather is nice.) 

A TANITVANYOK IS MAGYARUL BESZELNEK. (The students 
also speak Magyar.) 

Interrogative sentences, which begin with an interro¬ 
gative pronoun or adverb, are pronounced with descending 
intonation.. 

HOL VAN A TANAR? (Where is the teacher?) MERRE? (Which way?) 

In other interrogative sentences the intonation rises 
to the syllable preceding the last, and falls sharply in 
the last syllable. For example: 

A TANAR MEG MESSZE VAN? (Is the teacher far away yet?) 
MESSZE? (far?) OTT? (there?) 

















* 

► V 

■ 


















r >v. Snl - sdJ o nl 


n. \i: Bl, .1J :br, vq . rll Oif 


























I 





PART TWO 


PARTS OF SPEECH 




















* 












































' 4 











































































































































































' 





















































































































































































































































































































































































































INTRODUCTION 


Words are divided into nine M parts of speech”, accord¬ 
ing to their functions • 

(1) The VERB denotes action or a state of being. 

For Example: _ 


Olni 

(to strike) 

ELNI 

(to live) 

ESNI 

(to fall) 

£brt;dni 

(to awake) 


(2) The 

NOUN 

is a naming v/ord. The name of someone 

or something 

animate, inanimate, or abstract.For example: 



KATONA 

(soldier) 




ASZTAL 

(table) 




GONDOLAT 

(thought) 




BUDAPEST 

(Budapest) 


(3) The 

ADJECTIVE is a describing word. It expresses 

a quality of £ 

i person or thing 

, that is, it modifies a 

noun or pronoun. For example: 





J<5 

(good) 



• ^ \ 

NAGY 

(large) 




BATOR 

(brave) 




ZOLD 

(green) 















- 17 - 


(4) The NUMERAL defines the quantity of units or 
the position occupied in a series by a person or thing. 
For example: _ ______ 


ct 

(five) 

TIZEDIK 

(tenth) 

MASFfcL 

(one and a half] 

EZER 

(thousand) 


(5)The PRONOUN is a word which stands for a noun 
and has the same relationship with the rest of the 
sentence as the noun it replaces. For example: 


&N (I) 

MI (we) 

EZ (this) 

KI? (who?) 

bARMI (anything) 


(6) The ARTICLE limits the noun it modifies. For 
example: 


A, AZ 

(the) 

EGY 

(a, an) 


(7) The(BASIC) ADVERB modifies verbs, adjectives, 
or adverbs. It defines how, when, where, or to what 
degree something happens or someone is. For example: 


MAR 

(already) 

MAJD 

(soon) 

ITT 

(here) 

UTAN 

(after) 









- 18 - 


(8) The CONJUNCTION connects words or groups of 
words, and establishes relationships between them. 

For example: 


£s 

(and) 

DE 

(but) 

HA 

(if) 

VAGY 

(or) 


(9) The INTERJECTION is a cry or exclamation ex¬ 
pressing a strong feeling or emotion. For example: 


HAJi (hurray 1) 

JUJJS (ouch!) 








19 


CHAPTER I 
THE VERB 

The verb denotes action or a state of being, that 
is the verb expresses that someone or something is, exists 
or happens. 

According to whether the action has an ob.iect or 
is limited to the subject itself, the verb is transitive 

or intransitive . 

Verbs which take direct objects, in which the action 
is concieved as "going across' 1 or "passing over" from the 
subject to a receiver object, are called TRANSITIVE VERBS . 
For example: 

PAL MEGCLI P&TERT (Paul kills Peter) 

KATI HOZ EGY POHAR VIZET (Kati brings a glass of water) 

Verbs which show no action at all or which represent 
action limited to the subject, and therefore can not take 
direct objects are called INTRANSITIVE VERBS « For example: 

JULISKA J6L VAN (Juliska is well) 

■PETER AZ AGYON FEKSZIK (Peter lies on the bed) 















20 - 


EXCEPTIONS : Every now and then an intransitive verb 
can also have an object. Such verbs as fiLNI (to live) , 
JARNI (to walk), ALLNI (to stand), are intransitive verbs 
in Magyar, still one says: NEHflZ IDOKET feLttNK (we live 
hard ♦'times’ 1 ) , or JARJA A SZOBAT (he walks the floor), 
or MEGALIJA A SARAT (he stands his ground). 

Note : Verbs, which end in -UL, -UL, -D in their 
root, are usually intransitive verbs; those which end in -T, 
-IT, -SZT in their root, are usually transitive. For 
example: 

Intransitive : 

A KOCSI JOBBRA FORDUL (the car turns right) 

A FOGOLY HOLNAP SZABADUL (the prisoner will be free tomorrow) 
KORAN EBRF.D (avakes early) 

ITT ERED A PATAK (hare rises the creek) 

Transitive : 

HATAT FORDIT (he turns his back) 

FOGLYOT SZABADIT (he liberates a prisoner) 

MINDENKIT FFXfeBRF.SZT (he wakes up everybody) 

ERESSZE EL A HAJAMAT (let my hair go) 

Transitive verbs in English may be used in the active 
voice (the dog bites him), or in the passive voice (he was 

















- 21 


bitten by the dog) . Since there is no passive voice 
in Magyar, passive constructions in English must be 
transposed into the active voice when they are translated 
into Magyar* 

A special form of the active voice in English is 
the reflexive construction (the dog bites himself) • 
Although it can be expressed in the same way in Magyar, 
Magyar uses another, intransitive verb, which is called 
a reflexive verb, to express the same idea. 

KIND OF VERBS 

THE ACTIVE VERB means that the subject acts upon 
the object* These verbs can be transitive and intransitive 
as well. Examples: 


The subject* 

acts 

on the object** 

?AL 

OTI 

P&TERT ' 

(Paul 

strikes 

Peter) 

\Z ESO 

ESIK 


the rain 

falls) 


. KATONA 

FELfeBRED 


the soldier 

awakes) 


lAny 

FfestJLI 

A HAJAT 

the girl 

' 

combs 

ner hair) 


THE PASSIVE VERB is not used in Magyar, except in 

two cases: SZtiLETIK (is born), and DICS&RTESSEK (be praised), 

*) See page 93 

**)See page 95 


















- 22 - 


Examples: 


GYERMEK SZOLETIK AZ ANYAT<5l (a child is born of the mother) 

DICSfcRTESSfeK A JfizUS KEISZTUS (be praised, the name of 

Jesus Christ) 

THE REFLEXIVE VERB means that the subject is the 

acting person and the 

receiver of the action as well. 

Examples: 


A KATONA MOSAKODIK 

(the soldier washes himself) 

A LAN¥ FfeilLKODIK 

(the girl combs herself) 

AZ APA OLTOZKODIK 

(the father dresses himself) 


KIND OF VERBS SUMMARIZED 


a) 

ACTIVE VERB 


Subject- 



b) PASSIVE VERB 


Subject* 


C) 

REFLEXIV 

E VERB 


Subject^ 

=□ 




Transitive 

and 


Intransitive 

only 


Intransitive 

only 


Intransitive 


























- 23 


THE CONJUGATION 

By adding suffixes to the root of the verb we can 
express: 

1 the number and the person of the subject 

2 the person of th<~ object 

3 the mood of the action, and 

4 the time of the action 

THE NUMBER AND THE PERSON OF THE SUBJECT 


Number and person is expressed by the personal suffix : 


(feN) 

AD-OK 

(I give) 

(MI) 

AD-UNK 

(we give) 

(TE) 

AD-SZ 

(you give) 

(TI) 

AD-TOK 

(you give) 

(0) 

AD 

(he,she,it gives) 

(SK) 

AD-NAK 

(they give) 


In English we express the person and the number of 
the subject by using the personal pronoun along with the 
verb (I,you,he,she,it,we,you,they). In Magyar the personal 
pronoun is usually omitted. 

The shortest form of the verb, the third person 
singular (AD), is the root, and to this we add all the 
suffixes. Sometimes between the root of the verb and the 
suffix there is also a short linking vowel. For example: 
VAR-O-K (I wait) 

tlT-6-K (I strike) 

AD-O-K (I give) 














24 - 


THE PERSON OF THE OBJECT 

The person of the object is expressed by a suffix 
which shows whether the object is definite or indefinite. 

When we say AD-OK (I give) no definite object is 
shown. WHAT and HOW MUCH I give is not defined. ADOK 
(EGY) VALAMIT , (I give (one) something) . This 
suffix refers only to SOMETHING . In each person this is 
expressed by using different subjective personal suffixes. 
For example: 


(£N) AD-OK (I give a) 

(MI) AD-UNK (we give a) 

(TE) AD-SZ (you give a) 

(TI) AD-TOK (you give a) 

(5) AD (he,she,it gives a) 

(CK) AD-NAK (they give a) 


When it is desired to define the object more 
exactly a different type of suffix (added to the root of 
the verb) is used. So, if we say AD-OM EZT AZ ALMAT (I 
give you this apple), then we are speaking of a definite 
object (THIS apple), and the objective personal suffixes 
are added. For example: 


(&N) AD-OM (I give the) 


(MI) AD-JUK (we give the) 


(TE) AD-OD (you give the) (TI) AD-JATOK(you " " ) 

(5) AD-JA (he,she,it gives the) (OK) AD-JAK (they give the) 


See table of conjugation also. Page 35-42 











- 2 ? - 


DEFINITE CONJUGATION IS USED, when 
(1) an object is preceded by the definite article 
A, AZ. For example: 


OLVASSA AZ UJSAGOT 

(he reads the newspaper) 

T 

! 

(2) the object is an 

. For example: 

understood object of definite 

| lAtja a vArost ? 

(do you see the town ? ) 



INDEFINITE CONJUGATION IS USED, with 
(l) intransitive verbs. For example: 


megyUnk 

(we go) 

(2) a vague general object. For example: 

| EMBEREKET LATUNK 

(we see people) 


(3) an object qualified with a quantity-term. For 
example: 

|k£T EMBERT LATUNK (we see two men) 

(4) and if the object is ENGEM, T&GED, MINKET, 
TITEKET (me, thee, us, ye) . For example: 

ENGEM LAT (he sees me) 

TITEKET LATUNK (we see you) 

THE "I-THEE" FORM 

When the subject is the first person (I), and the 
object of the action is the familiar second person (Thee), 
Magyar uses a special form of conjugation, the "I-THEE" 
form. Thus "I hit you 11 is expressed by saying (&N) 0 t5M ONT 


























- 26 - 


but: "I hit thee” is expressed by the suffixes -LAK.-LEK, 
thus OTLEK.( I strike you). 

Other examples: 


ELFELEJTELEK 

(I forget thee) 

MEGRUGLAK 

(I kick thee) 


However only the first person is able to refer to 
the second familiar person with this verbal form. There 
are no suffixes expressing the same idea with other persons 
than the subject, 

THE MOOD OF THE ACTION 

The suffix added to the root of the verb can also 
express the mood of the action. Which means: HOW the 
action happens. 

"ADOK" means ”1 am giving”.The conditional mood is 
expressed in Magyar thus: "ADNfeK* ha...” (I would give if..) 
But someone may order me to give, thus permits, commands, 
or wishes that ADJAK (I shall givel) 

In these (3) examples the acting person feN (I) did 
not change, and the definite object did not change either. 
However,the mood of the action did change (indicative, 
conditional, and imperative). 

In the INDICATIVE MOOD there is only a short vowel 
between the root and the suffix: 

AD-O-K 


HISZ-E-K 


I give 
I believe 









- 27 - 


In the CONDITIONAL MOOD the -NA,-NE,-NA,-Nfi affixes 
can be found between the root of the verb and the personal 
suffix. For example: 

AD-NE-K (I would give) 

HIN-N&-K (I would believe) 

This mood is used to produce an ingratiating effect, 
which the indicative mood can not. For example: 

SZUKSEGEM VOLNA P&NZRE(I am rather in need of money, 

or I need money). 

In the Magyar IMPERATIVE MOOD we find the «j« affix, 
between the root and the verbal s-if p ix. This is the sign 
of the imperative mood. For example: 

AD-J-AK (I shall give) 

HIGY-J-EK (I shall believe) 

The POLITE IMPERATIVE is formed with the imperative 
of TETSZIK (it pleases) and the infinitive of the v^rb . 

For example: 

EZT TESSfK ELOLVASNI (pleaje read this through) 

TESSftK thus corresponds to "please",“kindly ". Used 
interrogatively it means " I beg your pardon? 1 ', "what did 
you say? ". It is also used when offering or giving someone 
something, much as the English expression ,f here you ar e”. 
For example: 

TESS&K EZ AZ (here you are,this is your's) 

TESS&K? NEM HALLOM (what did you say? I can't hear itl) 



























- 28 - 


THE TIME OF THE ACTION 

All the above examples are in the present tense. If 
we want to express the fact that a certain action happened 
in the past, then we must add another suffix to the root 
of the verb. Th^s• AD-T-AM (I gave) shows that the action 
has already happened. If between the root of the verb and 
the personal suffix there is a T or TT, the verb is in the 
past tense. 

Some verbs use a linking vowel between the sign of 
the past tense and the root. For example: 

BONT-O-TT-AM Cl opened) 

DOLGOZ-O-TT(he worked) 

There are also verbs which have two different forms. 
For example: 

ALL-T-AM (I stood) can be : ALL-O-TT-AM | 

The past tense of the conditional mood and the future 
tense are formed not with suffixes, but by using auxiliary 
verbs. 

The past tense of the conditional mood can be express 
ed by adding VOLNA (woul be) to the past tense of the verb. 
(VOLNA is 3rd person singular, conditional mood VAN). For 
example: 











- 29 - 


ADTAM VOLNA 

(I would have given) 

ADTAL VOLNA 

(you would have given) 

ADOTT VOLNA 

(he,she, it would have given) 

ADTUNK VOLNA 

(we would have given) 

ADTATOK VOLNA 

(you would have given) 

ADTAK VOLNA 

(they would have given) 


By the use of adverbial expressions the present 
tense may become the equivalent of the English future 
tense. For example: 

HOLNAP megyek (I shall go tomorrow ' 

MAJD megyek (I shall go soon ) 

When it is desired to stress futurity, a compound, 
tense is formed with the present tense of FOG, as auxiliary 
and the infinitive of the main verb. For example: 


ADNI 

FOGOK 

(I shall give) 

ADNI 

FOGSZ 

(you will give) 

ADNI 

FOG 

(he,she,it will give) 

ADNI 

FOGUNK 

(we shall give) 

ADNI 

FOGTOK 

(you will give) 

ADNI 

FOGNAK 

(they will give) 


Exception: 

The future of VAGYOK (I am) is the present of LENNI 
(to become). See page: 35 For example: 


HOLNAP NEM LESZEK ITT (I shall not be here tomorrow) 










- 30 - 


THE IK-VERBS 


One verb group does not follow the pattern described 
above. These exceptions are called "IK-verbs" because, in 
the 3rd person singular present tense they take the suffix 

"IK* 1 . They are irregular only i n the singular. Most of 
them are intransitive and therefore have no definite forms. 
But ESZIK (eats). ISZIK (drinks), ALSZIK (sleeps) , and 
JATSZIK (plays) do have a definite conjugation. 


Examples: 


MOOD 

(to escape) 

(to be cold) 

indicative 

SZOK-OM 

fAz-om 


SZOK-OL or SZOK-SZ 

FAZ-OL 


SZOK-IK 

PAZ-IK 


szok-Onk 

FAZ-UKK 


SZOK-TGK 

FAZ-TOK 


SZGK-NEK 

FAZ-NAK 

conditional 

SZOK-NiKor SZCKNfeM 

FiZ-N^Kor FAZNAM 


SZ0K-n£L 

PAZ-NAL 


SZOK-N^K 

FAZ-NfeK 


SZOK-N^NK 

FAZ-NANK 


szok-nJstek 

fAz-nAtok 


szGk-n£nek 

fAz-nAnak 

imperative 

SZCK-JEM 

fAz-zam 


SZOK-jfeL 

fAz-zAl 


SZGK'-JfeK 

FAZ-Z&K 


szgk-jOnk 

fAz-zunk 


SZOK-JETEK 

fAz-zatok 


SZOK-JENEK 

fAz-zanak 


There are few IK-verbs which follow the conjugation 
of regular verbs. 

For example: 













- 31 - 


VAL-OK 

(I become) 

VAL-SZ 

(you become) 

vAl-ik 

(he,she,it becomes) 

tOn-ok 

(I disappear) 

tOn-sz 

(you disappear) 

TON-IK 

(he,she,it disappear ) 


Sometimes colloquial speech changes the -M endings 
to -K in the first person singular* One hears ITGROK 
(I jump),FURD£K (I bathe), though this is grammatically 
incorrect * 


CHARI OF VERBAL MOODS AND TENSES 


,TENSE 

INDICATIVF, MOOD 

CONDITIONAL MOOD 

IMPERATIVE MOOD 

PRESENT 

indefinite 

indefinite 

indefinite 


(IK and regular) 

(IK and regular) 

(IK and regular) 


definite 

definite 

definite 

PAST 

indefinite 

definite 

indefinite 
(past ♦ VOLNA) 

definite 


FUTURE 

indefinite 
(infinitive+FOG) 

definite 


















- 32 - 


WORD FORMATION FROM VERBS 
THE INFINITIVE or VERBAL NOUN * 

If we adc -NI to the verbal root (in certain cases 
with a linking vowel), we get a verbal form (infinitive) 
which can be used as a noun. For example: 


ADNI 

(to give) 

VENNI 

(to take) 

BESZfcLNI 

(to speak) 

KAPNI 

(to receive) 


Examples: 

ADNI jobb, mint KAPNI (it is better to give than to receive) 

When this verbal form has a definite subject, the 

personal endings -EM, -ED, -IE, -UNK, -ETEK, -IOK;-OM*-OD,-*IA, 

-UNK, -OTOK, -IOK; -OM, -0D, -IE, -UNK, -OT5K* -IOK are added 

to t he infinitive, which drops the -I, For example: _ 

AZT LATNOM KELL (I have to see it) 

AZT LATNOD KELL (you have to see it) 

AZT LATNIA KELL (he,she,it has to see it) 

AZT LATNUNK KELL (we have to see it) 

AZT LATNOTOK KELL (you have to see it) 

AZT LATNIOK KELL (they have to see it) 


Other examples : 


BESZHXNEM SEM LEHET 

(I can not even speak) 

SZABAD EZT TENNICK ? 

(are they permitted to do this) 

SZABAD BESZfiLNEM ? 

(may I speak ?) 


THE PARTICIPLE or VERBAL ADJECTIVE 
Present participle. 

If we add -0,-5 suffixes to the root of the verb, we 
*) For other nouns formed of verbs, see page 47 * 


















- 33 - 


get a verbal form present participle which can be used 


as an adjective. For example: 


MENO EMBER 
SIET(5 EMBER 
HALADtf KOCSI 
MOS0 RUHA 
in6 SZOBA 
EB&DL0 terem 
MOS tf SZAPPAN 
HAMVAZ0 SZERDA 


(walking man) 
(hurrying man) 
(advancing carriage) 
(wash dress) 

(writing room) 
(dining room ) 

(wash soap ) 

(Ash Wednesday) 


Past participle . 

All the above actions take place in the present. 
However, if we add to the verbal root the -T or -TT suffix, 
we get adjectives which express completed action. 

For example: 


TAPASZTALT EMBER (experienced man) 
MEGlRT LECKE # (written lesson) 

ELSIETETT DONT^S (hurried decision) 


Note that the form of the past participle generally 
is identical with the 3rd person singular, past tense 
indefinite form of the verb. For example, "he has ex¬ 
perienced" and "experienced" are both TAPASZTALT; "he 

✓ 

has written" and "written" are IRT; etc. 


Future participle 

If we add -ANDtf or -ENDO to the verbal root, we 
get an adjective which refers to an action to take place 
in the future. 








- 34 - 


For example: 


IRANEX5 KftNYV (the book to be written) 

KQVETENDO PfiLDA (example to be followed) 


THE GERUNDS 


By adding -VA, -VE to the verbal root, we form 
gerunds• For example : 


FUTVA &RTE m6h (he caught up with him by running) 

EGY (5RA MULVA &RTE UTGL (he caught up with him after the 

passing of an hour) 


By adding -VAN, -VEN to the verbal root, we form 
the past gerund• For examples 


LEVELfeT MEGIRVAN ELMENT (having written his letter,he left) 
OT LATVAN ELFORDULT (having seen him, he turned away) 

Instead of the gerund, especially its -VAN, -V&N 
form, Magyar prefers to use a subordinate clause* Thus 
the sentences above would in most cases have the following 
form: 


MIUTAN LEVELfeT MEGIRTA,ELMENT (after he wrote his letter, 

he left) 

MINTHOGY ()T MEGLATTA,ELFORDULT (since he saw him, he turned 

away) 


CHART OF VERBAL DERIVATIVES 


INFINITIVE : -NI 

PARTICIPLE, present 
past 
future 

-(3, -0 
-T, -TT 
-ANDfl, -END0 

GERUND, present 

past 

-VA. -VE 
-VAN, -vEn 














35 


EXAMPLES OF CONJUGATION 


MOOD 

TENSE 

TO BE (lennl) 

TO BECOME (lenni) 

present 

indicative 

vagyok 

vagy 

van 

vagyunk 

vagytok 

vannak 

leszek 

leszel 

lesz 

leszUnk 

lesztek 

lesznek 

past 

voltam 

lettem 


voltal 

lettel 


volt 

lett 


voltunk 

lettUnk 


voltatok 

lettetek 


voltak 

lettek 

future 

leszek 

fogok (use present 


leszel 

lenni><ogsz indicative) 


lesz 

lenni fo£\^^ 


leszUnk 

lenni fogurdc^\^ 


lesztek 

lenni fogtok 


lesznek 

lenni fognak 

conditional 

volnek 

lennek 


voInal 

lennel 


volna 

lenne 


volnank 

lenn^nk 


volnatok 

lenn^tek 


volnanak 

lennenek 

conditional 

lettem volna 

lettem volna 

past 

lettel volna 

lettel volna 


lett volna 

lett volna 


lettUnk volna 

lettUnk volna 


lettetek vclna 

lettetek volna 


lettek volna 

lettek volna 

imperative 

legyek 

legyek 


legyel or 16gy 

legyel or 16gy 


legyen 

legyen 


legyunk 

legyOnk 


legyetek 

legyetek 


legyenek 

legyenek 

Participle,present: vald 

levo or 16vo 

past : volt 

lett 

future : leendo 

leendo 

Gerund, present: 


past : leven 

leven 


















- 36 - 


EXAMPLES OF CONJUGATION _ INTRANSITIVE VERBS 


MOOD 

TENSE 

(to go) 

(to come) 

(to work) 

present 

indicative 

megyek 

mesz 

megy 

me gy link 

mentek 

mennek 

jbvbk 

jossz 

.IPn 

jdvtink 

jBttPk 

jbnnek 

dolgozom 

dolgozol 

dolgozik 

dolgozunk 

dolgoztok 

dolgoznak 

past 

mentem 

mentel 

ment 

mentank 

mentetek 

mentek 

j bttem 
j cittel 
jOtt 
jbttUnk 
jottetek 

JOttek 

dolgoztam 

dolgoztal 

dolgozott 

dolgoztunk 

dolgoztatok 

dolgoztak 

future 

menni fogok 
menni fogsz 
menni fog 
menni fogunk 
menni fogtok 
menni fognak 

jonni fogok 
jbnni fogsz 
jPnni fog 
jonni fogunk 
jonni fogtok 
jonni fognak 

dolgozni fogok 
dolgozni fogsz 
dolgozni fog 
dolgozni fogunk 
dolgozni fogtok 
dolgozni fognak 

conditional 

mennek 

mennel 

menne 

mennenk 

mennetek 

menn£nek 

j bnn£k 
jbnnel 
jbnne 
j Snn6nk 
jbnnetek 
j Snn6nek 

dolgoznam 

dolgoznal 

dolgozna 

dolgoznank 

dolgozn£tok 

dolgoznanak 

conditional 

past 

mentem volna 
mental volna 
ment volna 
mentUnk volna 
mentetek volna 
mentek volna 

jbttem volna 
jdttel volna 
yd tt volna 
jbttUnk volna 
jbttetek volna 
jbttek volna 

dolgoztam volna 
dolgoztal volna 
dolgozott volna 
dolgoztunk w 
dolgoztatok " 
dolgoztak voi.na 

impreative 

menjek 

menj 

menjen 

men j link 

menjenetek 

menjenek 

jojjek 

J»JJ*1 

jbjjon 

jbjjiink 

3 oJjetek 
jbjjenek 

dolgozzam 

dolgozzal 

dolgozzek 

dolgozzunk 

dolgozzatok 

dolgozzanak 

Participle,present: meno 
past : ment 

future : menendo 

Gerund, present: menve 

past : menv^n 

Infinitive : menni 

jbvo 

jott 

jovendo 

jove 

joven 

jbnni 

dolgozd 

dolgozott 

dolgozandd 

dolgozva 

dolgozvan 

dolgozni 



















EXAMPLES OF CONJUGATION 


mmumjwa. 


MOOD 

TENSE 

INDEFINITE 

DEFINITE 

(to request) 

,, I-THEE"form 

OBJECT: 3rd p. 

present 

indicative 

kerek 

kersz 

ker 

keriink 

kertek 

k6rnek 

kerlek 

k£rem 

kered 

keri 

ker jiik 

keritek 

kerik 

past 

kertem 

kertel 

kert 

kertunk 

kertetek 

kertek 

kertelek 

kertem 

k6rted 

k6rte 

kertlik 

kertetek 

k6rtek 

future 

kerni fogok 
kerni fogsz 
kerni fog 
kerni fogunk 
kerni fogtok 
kerni fognak 

kerni foglak 

k6rni fogom 
kerni fogod 
k6rni fogja 
kerni fogjjuk 
kerni fogjatok 
kerni fogjak 

conditional 

kernek 

kernel 

kerne 

kernenk 

kernetek 

kernenek 

kernelek 

kernem 

kerned 

kerne 

kernenk 

kernetek 

kernek 

conditional 

past 

kertem volna 
kertel volna 
kert volna 
kertUnk volna 
kertetek volna 
kertek volna 

kertelek volna 

kertem volna 
kerted volna 
kerte volna 
kertuk volna 
kertetek volna 
kert6k volna 

imperative 

kerjek 
ker j 
kerjen 
kerjjtink 
kerjetek 
kerjenek 

kerjelek 

kerjem 

kerjed 

k6rje 

kerjUk 

kerj^tek 

k6rj<§k 

Participle.present: kero 
past : kert 

future : kerendo 

Gerund, present: kerve 
past : kerven 

Infinitive : kerni 


















EXAMPLES OF CONJUGATION 


TRANSITIVE VERB 


MOOD 

INDEFINITE 

DEFINITE 

TENSE 

(to buy,take) 

"I-THEE" form 

OBJECTIVE :3rd p. 

present 

indicative 

veszek 

veszel 

vesz 

vesztink 

vesztek 

vesznek 

vegyelek 

veszem 

veszed 

veszi 

vesszuk 

veszitek 

veszik 

past 

vettem 

vettel 

vett 

vettUnk 

vettetek 

vettek 

vettelek 

vettem 

vetted 

vette 

vetttik 

vettetek 

vett6k 

future 

venni fogok 
venni fogsz 
venni fog 
venni fogunk 
venni fogtok 
venni fognak 

venni foglak 

venni fogom 
venni fogod 
venni fogja 
venni fogjuk 
venni fogjatok 
venni fogjak 

conditional 

vennek 

vennel 

venne 

vennenk 

vennetek 

vennenek 

vennelek 

venn6m 

venned 

venn6 

vennenk 

vennetek 

vennek 

conditional 

past 

vettem volna 
vettel volna 
vett volna 
vettUnk volna 
vettetek volna 
vettek volna 

vettelek volns 

vettem volna 
vetted volna 
vette volna 
vettUk volna 
vettetek volna 
vettek volna 

imperative 

vegyek 

vegy£l 

vegyen 

vegyunk 

vegyetek 

vegyenek 

vegyelek 

vegyem 

vegyed 

vegye 

vegytik 

vegyetek 

vegy6k 

Participle,present: vevo 
past : vett 

future : veendo 

Gerund,present: v6ve 

past : v£v6n 

Infinitive : venni 



















39 


MOOD 

TENSE 

INDEFINITE 
(to do,to put) 

DEFINITE 

"I-THEE" form 

OBJECT :3 rd p. 

present 

indicative 

teszek 

teszel 

tesz 

tesziink 

tesztek 

tesznek 

teszlek 

teszem 

teszed 

teszi 

tessziik 

teszitek 

teszik 

past 

tettem 

tett61 

tett 

tettiink 

tettetek 

tettek 

tettelek 

tettem 

tetted 

tette 

tettuk 

tettetek 

tettek 

future 

tenni fogok 
tenni fogsz 
tenni fog 
tenni fogunk 
tenni fogtok 
tenni fognak 

tenni foglak 

tenni fogotn 
tenni fogod 
tenni fogja 
tenni fogjuk 
tenni fogjatok 
tenni fogjak 

conditional 

tenn6k 
tenne1 
tenne 
tenn6nk 
tennetek 
tennenek 

tehnelek 

tennem 

termed 

tenne 

tennenk 

tennetek 

tennok 

conditional 

past 

tettem volna 
tettel volna 
tett volna 
tettiink volna 
tettetek volna 
tettek volna 

tettelek volns 

tettem volna 
tetted volna 
tette volna 
tettUk volna 
tettetek volna 
tettek volna 

imperative 

tegyek 

tegyel 

tegyen 

tegytink 

tegyetek 

tegyenek 

tegyelek 

tegyem 

tegyed 

tegye 

tegyUk 

tegyetek 

tegyek 


Participle, present: tevo 
past : tett 
future : teendo 


Gerund, present: t6ve 
past : tev6n 
Infinitive : tenni 




















40 


EXAMPLES OF CONJUGATION 

TRANSITIVE VERB 

MOOD 

INDEFINITE 

DEFINITE 

TENSE 

(to believp 

. to trust) 

present 

indicative 

hiszek 

hiszel 

hisz 

hisztink 

hisztek 

hisznek 

hiszem 

hiszed 

hiszi 

hisszUk 

hiszitek 

hiszik 

past 

hittem 

hittel 

hitt 

hittiink 

hittetek 

hittek 

hittem 

hitted 

hitte 

hittUk 

hittetek 

hittek 

future 

hinni fogok 
hinni fogsz 
hinni fog 
hinni fogunk 
hinni fogtok 
hinni fognak 

hinni fogom 
hinni fogod 
hinni fogja 
hinni fogjuk 
hinni fogjatok 
hinni fogjak 

conditional 

hinnek 

hinn61 

hinne 

hinnSnk 

hinnStek 

hinnenek 

hinn6m 

hinnSd 

hinn6 

hinnenk 

hinn6tek 

hinnek 

conditional 

p^st 

hittem volna 
hittel volna 
hitt volna 
hittUnk volna 
hittetek volna 
hittek volna 

hittem volna 
hitted volna 
hitte volna 
hitttik volna 
hittetek volna 
hittek volna 

imperative 

higgyek 

higgydl or higgy 

higgyen 

higgyunk 

higgyetek 

higgyenek 

higgyem 

higgyed or hidd 

higgye 

higgyUk 

higgyetek 

higgySk 

Participle, 

present: hivo 
past : hitt 

future : hiend6 

Gerund,present: hfve 
past : hiven 

Infinitive - : hinni 


















41 


EXAMPLES OF CONJUGATION ,_ TRANSITIVE IK- VERB 


MOOD 

TENSE 

INDEFINITE DEFINITE 

(to eat) "I-THEETorm, 

OBJECT:3rd c. 

present 

indicative 

eszek 

eszel 

eszik 

esziink 

esztek 

esznek 

5 eszlek 

I 

eszem 

eszed 

eszi 

essziik 

eszitek 

eszik 

past 

ettem 

ettel 

evett 

ettiink 

ettetek 

ettek 

ettelek 

ettem 

etted 

ette 

ettiik 

ettetek 

ettek 

future 

enni fogok 
enni fogsz 
enni fog 
enni fogunk 
enni fogtok 
enni fognak 

enni foglak 

enni fogom 
enni fogod 
enni fogja 
enni fogjuk 
enni fogj.<tok 
enni fogjak 

conditional 

ennek 

ennel 

enne 

ennenk 

ennetek 

ennenek 

enn£lek 

enn6m 

enn6d 

enne 

ennenk 

enn4tek 

ennek 

conditional 

past 

ettem volna 
ettel volna j 
;evett volna 
j ettiink volna 
ettetek volna 
ettek volna 

'ettelek volna 

i 

l 

i 

ettem volna 
etted volna 
ette volna 
ettiik volna 
ettetek volna 
ett6k volna 

imperative 

egyek 

egyel 

egyek 

egytink 

egyetek 

egyenek 

egyelek 

egyem 

egyed or edd 

egye 

egyiik 

egyetek 

egyek 

Participle.present: evo 

past : evett 

future : eendo 

Gerund, present: 6ve 
past : 6v6n 

Infinitive : enni 




















42 


MOOD 

TENSE 

INDEFINITE 
(to drink) 

DEFINITE 

"I-THEE" form 

OBJECT: 3rd p. 

present 

indicative 

iszok 

oszol 

iszik 

iszunk 

isztok 

isznak 

iszlak 

iszom 

iszod 

issza 

isszuk 

isszatok 

isszak 

past 

ittam 

ittal 

ivott 

ittunk 

ittatok 

ittak 

ittalak 

ittam 

ittad 

itta 

ittuk 

ittatok 

ittak 

future 

inni fogok 
inni fogsz 
inni fog 
inni fogunk 
inni fogtok 
inni fognak 

inni foglak 

inni fogom 
inni fogod 
inni fogja 
inni fogjuk 
inni fogjatok 
inni fogjak 

conditional 

innek 

innal 

inna 

innank 

innatok 

innanak 

innalak 

inn am 

innad 

inna 

innank 

innatok 

innak 

conditional 

past 

ittam volna 
ittal volna 
ivott volna 
ittunk volna 
ittatok volna 
ittak volna 

ittalak volna 

ittam volna 
ittad volna 
itta volna 
ittuk volna 
ittatok volna 
ittak volna 

imperative 

igyak 

igyal 

igyek 

igyunk 

igyatok 

igyanak 

igyalak 

igyam 

igyad or idd 

igya 

igyuk 

igyatok 

igyak 


Participle,present: iv6 

past : ivott 
future : ivandd 


Gerund,present: iva 
past : ivan 

Infinitive : inni 




















- 43 - 


VERB BUILDING 


New words in the Magyar language are often formed 
by the addition of affixes to the end or in the body of 
other words. The meaning of the new word is generally 
different from that of the basic v/ord, and often a 
different part of speech. Verbs can be built from verbs 
and form substantives. 

VERB-BUILDING ON VERBAL ROOTS 

i 

(a) Frequentative verbs are formed by various 
affixes. These verbs express the frequent repetition of 
the action of the root-verb. For example: 


KULD (sends) 
HAJLIK (leans) 
Lftp (steps) 

MEGY (goes) 
JAR (walks) 
RCPtlL (flies) 
BESZ&L (talks) 
T&P (tears) 


KULD-O-Z 

HAJL-O-NG 

L&P-DEL 

LEP-E-GET 

MEN-DEGEL 

JAR-O-GAT 

R5P-K0D 

besz6l-get 

TEP-DES 


(keeps sending) 
(keeps leaning) 
(keeps steping) 
(keeps steping) 
(keeps going) 
(walk^ frequently) 
(flies frequently) 
(chatters) 

(tears frequently) 


(b) Instantaneous verbs express a quick single action. 


of an 


£l 


(lives) 

fiL-ED 

(gets awake) 

(meg) 

sz<3l 

(talks) 

megsz<5l-al 

(starts talking) 

(meg) 

FUT 

(runs) 

MEGFUT-AMODIK 

(starts running) 


For example: 

ZOROG (rustles) ZCR-REN or ZOR-DUL (rustles once) 

CSAVAR (twists) :SAVAR-INT (twists once) 

D(3r 5G (thunders) DOR-REN or DGR-D'JL (thunders once) 

(c) Inchoative verbs express only the beginning 

action. For example: 












44 - 


(d) Passive verbs are formed by adding the suffixes 
~ATIK, -ETIK, -TATIK, -TETIK to the root. For example: 


AD 

(gives) 

AD-ATIK 

(is 

given) 

SZOL 

(gives birth) 

SZ f iL-ETIK 

(is 

born) 

NYIT 

(opens) 

NYIT-TATIK 

(is 

opened) 

DICSfeR 

(praises) 

DICSfrt-TETIK 

(is 

praised) 


(e) Causative verbs resemble closely the passive 
verbs, but their meaning is entirely different. They are 
trying to show that someone (other than us) is caused to 
act. Their suffixes are: -AT, -ET,-TAT, -TET. For example: 


HORD 

(carries) 

HORD-AT 

(causes 

to carry) 

VON 

(pulls) 

VON-TAT 

(causes 

to pull) 

BESZ&L 

(talks) 

BESZfiL-TET 

(causes 

to speak) 


Verbs ending in -T add -TAT,-TET if the T is preceded 
by a vowel; if the T is preceded oy a consonant -aT or-KT 
is used. For example: 


NYIT 

(opens) 

NYIT-TAT 

(causes 

to open) 

lat 

(sees) 

lAt-tat 

(causes 

to see) 

SOT 

(bakes) 

StiT-TET 

(causes 

to roast) 


on the other hand 


FEST 

(paints) 

FEST-ET 

(causes 

to paint) 

OSZT 

(deals) 

OSZT-AT 

(causes 

to deal) 

KELT 

(wakes) 

KF.LT-ET 

(causes 

to wake) 


(f) Reflexive verbs are formed by adding -KODIK, 
?fKEDIK ,-KC3DIK; -KOZIK ,-KEZIK,-KOZIK ;-ODZIK ,-ODZIK,-EDIK, 
-ODIK, or -ODIK. For example: 













- 4-5 - 


MOS 

(washes) 

MOS-A-KODIK (washes himself) 

EMEL 

(lifts) 

EMEL-KEDIK (rises himself) 

FESUL 

(combs) 

FE3UL-k5dIK (combs himself) 

IGfeR 

(promises) 

IGftR-KEZIK (promises himself) 

TORLtL 

(dries) 

T5rOL-KSZIK (dries himself) 


Reciprocal verbs are formed with the same suffixes. 
They express a reciprocal action by tv o or more subjects 
(each on the other (s)).For example: 


KERGET (chases) KET FIU KERGET-ODZIK (two boys are chas- 

, ing each other) 

VER (beats) KET FIU VER-EKEDIK (two boys fight 

each other) 


(g) Potential /orbs express a possible action. They 
are formed by ailing -HAT, -HET to the verbal root. For 
example: 


VAR 

(waits) 

vAr-hat 

(it is 

possible for him to 
wait) 

BESZfeL 

(talks) 

BESZfeL-HET 

(it is 

possible for him to 
speak) 


VERB BUILDING FROM NOUNS AND ADJECTIVES 


(a) Verbs are made from nouns. They express an 


action 

in some v/ay 

involving the noun. For example: 

hegedC 

(violin) 

HEGED0-L 

(he 

is playing the violin) 

halAsz 

( fisherman) 

HALASZ-IK 

(he 

is fishing) 

aot<5 

( car) 

AUT<5-ZIK 

(he 

is driving a car) 

TELEFON (telephone) 

telefon-Al 

(he 

is telephoning) 

RUHA 

( clothes) 

rtjhA-z 

(he 

clothes) 

TALP 

( sole) 

TALP-AL 

(he 

puts on sole) 

AG 

( branch) 

AG-AZIK 

(it 

branches off) 

LEV&L 

(letter ) 

LEVEL-EZ 

(he 

corresponds) 















- 46 - 


(b) Verbs are formed from adjectives . They express 
the idea that the subject assumes or is made to assume 
the characteristics indicated by the adjectives. For example: 


FEKETE 

(black) 

FEKETE-DIK 

(darkens) intransitive 

Kf3C 

(blue) 

KftK-l'L 

(becomes blue) intransitive 

KfSC 

(blue) 

KftK-LIK 

(looks blue,shows itself blue) 

NAGY 

(large) 

NAGY-IT 

(enlarges) transitive 

FEHfH 

(white) 

FEH&t-LIK 

(looks white, shows itself 
white) 


(c) Verbs are also formed from adjectives . They 
express opinions. For example: 


SOK 

(much) 

SOK-AL 

(finds it too much) 

ROSSZ 

(bad) 

ROSSZ-AL 

(disapproves) 


(d) Verbs are formed from nouns or adjectives . They 
express behavior. For example: 


OGYES (skillful) UGYES-KEDIK (acts skillfully) 

KIRALY (king) KIRALY-KODIK (behaves like a king) 

SZAMAR (ass) SZAMAR-KODIK (behaves like a donkey) 

KATONAS (soldierly) KATONAS-KODIK (acts like a soldier) 









- 47 


FORMING SUBSTANTIVES FROM VERBS 

We have already seen In the Chapter on ,f Word 
Formation from Verbs" (page 32) that nouns, adjectives 
or adverbs can be derived from verbs. These derivatives 
can be formed equally well from each verb. From many 
verbs,however, we can form further substantives, though 
we have.no strict rules to guide us in doing so. 

NOUNS are formed by 

-AS, -fe, -AT, -ET endings added to the root of 
the verb. These nouns name actions, attitudes, and states 
of being. For example: 


AD 

(gives) 

ADAS 

( giving) 

VESZ 

(takes) 

VEVfiS 

(taking) 

SAJNAL 

(regrets) 

SAJNALAT 

( sympathy) 

£l 

(lives) 

£let 

(life) 


-VANY, -VENY suffixes form nouns which indicate the 
person acting, the doer. For example: 


ALL 

(stands) 

ALLVANY (stand) 

SZOKIK 

(flees) 

SZSKEVfeNY (fugitive) 


-IlK, -£l form nouns which name the instrument by 
which the action is performed. For example: 







- 48 - 


FED 

✓ 

TERIT 

(covers) 

(spreads 

FED& (roof, top) 

out) TERXTfcK (cover) 


- 

SAG, -SfiG. 

-MANY, -M&NY suffixes form nouns which 

express 

the result of the action. For example: 


TANTJL 

( studies) 

TANULSAG (moral of story) 

tanulmAny 
( st idy) 

£l 

(lives) 

&LM&NY (experience) 

VESZIT 

(loses) 

VESZTES&G (loss) 



Some ADJECTIVES can be formed from verbs showing 
that the action expressed by the verb* is a permanent 
characteristic of someone or something. For example: 


f£l 

(fears) 

FftLfiNK ember 

(fearful man) 

FAZIK 

(freezes) 

FAz 6S ember 

(freezing man) 

ART 

(harms) 

ARTALMAS ital 

(harmful drink) 

SZUR 

(pierces) 

SZT$R<3S tUske 

(piercing thorn) 






- 49 - 


CHAPTER II 
THE NOUN 


Nouns are names of things, animate.inanimate, 
or imaginary. Generally speaking, nouns are classified 
into two groups: proper nouns and common nouns • 

THE PROPER NOUN denotes a single person or thing, 
and is always written with a capital letter. 


Isten (God) 

ur (Lord) 

MegvAltd (Redeemer) 

Written with a small 
letter, as in English, 
(gods), when referring 
to Dlural deities. 

Teleki Pal (Paul Teleki) 

Szent IstvAn (Saint Stephen) 

Boldog Margit (Blessed Margaret) 

The name of people. 

Morzsa, Bikfic, Pejkd 

The name of animals. 

Magyarorszag (Hungary) 

Amerika (America) 

Szabadsag-ter (Liberty Square) 

Geographic names. 
Written with small 
letters,when used as 
adjectives. 

Katonai Nyelviskola (Army Language 

School) 

KeresztySn Ifjusagi Egyesulet 
(Young Men's Christian Association) 
Amerikai Magyar Nepszava (American- 
Hungarian People's Voice) 

Szabad Sz6 (Free Word) 

The names of institu¬ 
tions • 


Order of words in names 

The surname (last name) is used first, followed by 
ti\e given (first) name, as in American telephone directories, 













-5o- 


or military rosters. For example: 

Kiss Ferenc (Francis Kiss) 

Titles of nobility and professional titles may be 
used before as after the name. For example: 

Grdf Teleki Pal or Teleki Pdl grdf (Count Paul Teleki) 
Dr. Bird Lajos or Bird Lajos dr. (Dr. Louis Bird) 

Titles of address (Mrs., and Miss, etc.) follow the 
names. For example: 

Kiss Ferenc ur (Mr. Francis Kiss) 

Kovacs kisasszony (Miss Kovacs) 

Magyar has separate words for "Mr." and "Miss", but 
there is no separate word for "Mrs."; instead the simple 
ending -N& is attached to the name. For example: 


Kissnd 

(Mrs. Kiss) 

Kiss Istvdnne 

(Mrs. Stephen Kiss) 


In addressing letters , the word DR and URNO 
(URASSZONY)are used after the full name. For example: 


Kovacs Istvan urnak 
Kiss Ferencne Tirnonek 

(to Mr. Stephen Kovacs) 

(to Mrs. Francis Kiss) 

-EK added to names and 

to some other nouns makes 

plural.For example: 

Kovdcsek 

(the Kov6cs‘s the Smiths) 

Pdterdk 

(the Peters) 

katonaek 

(the soldiers) 
















51 


THE COMMON NOUN . Names which are not proper nouns 
are called common nouns. For example: 


KATONA 

(soldier) 

ASZTAL 

(table) 

NAP 

(sun,day) 

MAGYAR 

(Hungarian) 

jAt£k 

(game) 

tanulsAg 

(moral of story) 


Suffixes are added to nouns for various fmotions* 
For example nouns generally form the plural by adding -K, 
with the linking vowels -A-, -E-, -0-, -0-. For example: 


OROM 

(joy) 

0RSM5K 

(joys) 

ASZTAL 

(table) 

asztalok 

(tables) 

hAz 

(house) 

hazak 

(houses) 

MAGYAR 

(Hungarian) 

MAGYAROK 

(Hungarians) 

EMBER 

(man) 

EMBEREK 

(men) 


When the noun is used as a direct object, it 


receives 

a -T ending. 

For example 

; 

OROM 

(joy) 

OROMOT 

(joy) (objective 

ASZTAL 

(table) 

ASZTALT 

(table) cases) 

NAP 

(sun,day) 

NAPOT 

(sm,day) 

MAGYAR 

(Hungarian) 

MAGYART 

(Hungarian) 

jAtek • 

(Play) 

jAt£kot 

(play) 


We deal in detail with the different suffixes in 
Part Three, under the Chapters "OBJECT” and "ADVERBS”. 
See pages 95 and 97. 









- 52 - 


NOUN-BUILDING 


We have already seen in the chapter on verbs that 
nouns can be formed from verbs. This chapter treats 
the formation of nouns from words which, in the main, 
are not verbs. 

-SAG, -SEG form nouns usually of abstract or 
collective nature . For example: 


szfep 

(beautiful) 

SZfePStG 

(beauty) 

(unity) 

EGY 

(one) 

EGYSfeG 

NAGY 

(large) 

nagysAg 

(size) 

MAGYAR 

(Hungarian) 

magyarsAg 

(Magyardom, all 
Hungarians) 


-ALOM, -ELEM form nouns, usually of abstract meaning , 
from verbs . For example: 


FfeLKI 

(to fear) 

FfiLELEM 

(fear) 

FOGNI 

(to catch) 

FOGALOM 

(idea,notion) 

NYUGODNl(to rest) 

NYUGALOM 

(peace,quiet) 

HATNI 

(to effect) 

HATALOM 

(power) 


-ASZ, -ASZAT, -feZ, -feZET form nouns thus: 


M0 (work) mCv£sZ (artist) MflvfeZET (art) 

NYELV (tongue) NYELV&SZ (linguist) NYELVfeSZET (philology) 


-KA, -KE. -SKA. -SKE, -CSKA, -CSKE are used as 
diminutive suffixes , often forming terms of endearment. 
For example: 


MARIA (Marie) MARIKA or MARIACSKA (dear little Mary) 

jflLIA (Julia) JULIKA or JULISKA (dear little Julia) 

KATI (Kathy) KATIKA (dear little Kathy) 














CHAPTER III 


COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES 

There are three degrees of comparison: positive, 
comparative, and superlative. 

The positive degree denotes the simple existence 
of a quality, but does not compare it with a similar 
quality in any other being or thing. For example: 


SZfilP VIRAG 

(nice flower) 

NAGY HAZ 

(big house) 

KIS EMBER 

(little man) 


The comparative degree denotes that the quality 
exists to a greater or less degree than in another object. 
In that case we show the stronger quality by adding -BB 
(or on rare occasion simply -B) to the positive adjective . 
For example: 

EZ A VIRAG SZEBB MINT AZ (this flower is nicer than that) 
EZ A HAZ KISEBB MINT AZ (this house is smaller than that) 
GAZDAGABB A BARATJAnAL (he is richer than his friend) 

Note, that ’'than" can be expressed either by MINT or 
by the suffix -NAL, -NEL. For example: 










- 54 - 


Positive : 

EZ OLYAN NAGY MINT AZ (this is as big as that) 

Comparative : 

EZ NAGYOBB MINT AZ (this is bigger than that) 

or 

EZ NAGYOBB ANNAL (this is bigger than that) 

The superlative denotes the greatest or the least 
degree of the quality among all beings and objects compared. 
It is formed by adding the -LEG prefix and -BB suffix to 
the positive adjective . For example: 

A LEGSZEBB VIRAG (the nicest flower) 

A LEGNAGYOBB HAZ (the biggest house) 

An emphatic or absolute superlative is formed by 
prefixing -LEGES to the superlative . For example: 

EZ A LEGES LEGS ZEBB VIRAG (this is the nicest flower(of all)) 
EZ A LEGES LEGNAGYOBB HAZ (this is the biggest house(of all)) 

Exceptions : 

(1) In the comparative degree a few complex adjec¬ 
tives (that is adjectives which are combinations of two 
roots) do not take on the suffix -BB at the end of the 
word; instead, they insert it in the middle. For example: 

NAGYOBBFOKU (of greater degree) 

JOBBM0DU (of better situation) 
















- 55 - 


(2) The comparison of some adjectives is irregular. 
For instances: 


J<5. 

(good) 

JOBB 

(better) 

LEGJOBB 

(best) 

SZEP 

(nice) 

SZEBB 

(nicer) 

LEGSZEBB 

(nicest) 

SOK 

(many) 

TCBB 

(more) 

LEGT^BB 

(most) 


(3) Adjectives which end in -S<5, -SO form the 
superlative not from the comparative but from the positive. 
For example: 


legals<5 

(lowest) 

LEGFELSO 

(highest) 


(4) There is a special use for the comparative of 
the adjective, when we are not comparing, but merely wish 
to emphasize the positive of the adjective. For example: 

HOSSZABB UTRA MENT (he went on a quite long journey) 

Originally we wish to say that he went on a journey, 
which was longer than the usual (long) journey. This idea 
can be conveyed in English by the use of "quite”, “really”, 
“rather”,etc. 


TYPES OF ADJECTIVES 


Adjectives formed from substantives by the suffixes 
-s. -u, -ff mean a person or thing which possesses something . 


For example: 









- 56 - 


KENYiSR (bread) KENYERES (bread seller) 

SZ1N (color) SZINES . (colored) 

NAGY LAB (big foot) NAGYLABU (big-footed) 


The suffixes -TALAN, -TELEN, -TLAN, -TLEN express the 
idea that a person or thing lacks something . For example: 


VAGYON 

(wealth) 

VAGYONTALAN(penniless) 

SZEM 

(eye) 

SZEHTELEN (eyeless) 

FOL 

(ear) 

FOLETLEN (earless) 


Adjectives ending in -I indicate the origin of the 
person or thing. For example: 


AMERIKA 

(America) 

AMERIKAI 

(American) 

BUDAPEST 

(Budapest) 

BUDAPESTI 

(from Budapest) 

EMBER 

(man) 

EMBERI 

(human) 

HAZ 

(house) 

HAZI 

(domestic,from the 
house) 

The suffixes -S 6 , -S5, 

-DIK indicate relative 


position. For example: 


ALS<5 

(lower) 

ELSO 

(first) 

FELSO 

(upper) 

UTOLStf 

(last) 

TIZEDIK 

(tenth) 

NAGYOBBIK 

(the bigger one) 


-KA, -KE, -S, -DAD, -PEP are diminutive suffixes. For 


example: 


KICSI 

KIS 


(little) KICSIKE (tiny) 

(little) KISDED (little one) 


CHART OF ADJECTIVES 
























57 


CHAPTER IV 
TERMS OF QUANTITY 

When we talk about the quantity of things, we say 


EGY (one) 

5T (five) 

KfcTSZAZ (two hundred) 

cardinal numbers 

SOK (many) 

KEVfiS (few) 

NEHANY (some) 

indefinite trems of quantity 


Adjectives called ordinal numbers are formed from 
the cardinal numbers in both Magyar and English. In Magyar 
ordinal numbers are formed from cardinal numbers by adding 
a vowel and -DIK. A period is put after numerals to numerals 
to show that they are used as ordinal numbers. For example: 


EGY ELSO (1.)(first) 

HAROM HARMADIK (3.)(third) 

TIZ TIZEDIK (10.)(tenth) 

SZAZ SZAZADIK (100.)(hundredth) 


►ordinal numbers 


Special usages : 

(a) The cardinal numbers may be repeated in Magyar to 
show the division of the things referred to into equal 
groups. This constitution gives the effect of the English 
”in (by) twos, threes,etc. For example: 











- 58 - 


MINDEN FtiLKEBEN K&T-K&T EMBER tJL (the men sit in pairs 
, , in each compartment) 

MINDENEINEK TIZ-TIZ DOLLART AD (he give ten dollars to 

each person) 


(b) In Magyar the fraction one-ha lf is expressed by 
FEL. When the FftL Is added to a number another construction 
is made• For example: 


EGY ES FTSL HASFfeL (one and a half) 
KETTO £s FEL HARMADFEL (two and a half) 
HaROM ES F kl NEGYEDFEL (three and a half) 


That means that "two and a half of the third","four 
and a half of the fifth",etc. 

(c) All fraction;- , except one-half, are formed by 
dropping the -IK ending from the ordinal number.For example 


CT5DIK (fifth) EGY OTOD {1/5) (one fifth) 

TIZEDIK (tenth) EGY TIZED (1/30) (one tenth) 

SZAZADIK (hundredth) EGY SZAZAD (l/lOO)(one hundredth) 


(d) We should note that In Magyar the numerals are 
written out in letters up to one hundred. They are written 
as one word up to two thousand. Above 2,000 they are 
generally written in groups of three. For example: 


1949 = EZERKIIENCSZAZNEGYVENKIEENC 
1,310.510 ^KGYMILLlg-HABOMSZAZTIZFiZER-^TSZAZTlZ 


CHART CF QUANTITY TERMS 

NUM 

3ERS 

INDEFINITE TERMS 

CARDINAL 

ORDINAL 

EGY (one) 

KETTO (two) 

R (ROM (three) 

ELS 5 (first) 
HASODTK (second) 
HARMADIK (third) 

MIND (all) 

SOK (many) 

KEVES (few) 

NfiHANY (some) 



























CHAPTER V 


THE PRONOUN 


Pronouns are used in place of nouns and adjectives. 
Instead of the name of the speaker one may say £n (I), 
instead of SZ&P (beautiful) one may say OLYAN (such)• and 
instead of OT (five) one may say ANNYI (that many). 
Pronouns are divided into eight groups: 

(1) Personal Pronouns, 

(2) Reflexive Pronouns, 

(3) Reciprocal Pronouns, 

(4) Possessive Pronouns, 

(5) Demonstrative Pronouns, 

(6) Interrogative Pronouns, 

(7) Relative Pronouns, and 

(8) Indefinite Pronouns. 


PERSONAL PRONOUNS 


Personal Pronouns are used instead of names of 
persons . They are used in Magyar only for special emphasis 
or clarity. The personal pronouns ares 


£N (I) 

TE,MAGA,t)N ((thou)you) 
0 (he,she,it) 


MI (we) 

TI, MAGUK, 8nOK( (ye)you) 
OK (they) 


The familiar forms which have disappeared from 
English ("thou 1 *, M ye M ) are much used in Magyar in speaking to 










- 60 - 


(a) members of one's own family, 

(b) old friends and colleagues, and 
Cc) children and animals 

They are also used* as in English* in addressing 
the deity and in poetic language. 

In Magyar the polite form of address is in the 
third person. The ‘'polite 11 pronouns are MAGA, $N, MAGUK, 
”N5K, all of which require the 3rd PERSON OP THE VERB. 
For example: 


8N JON (you are coming) 

CNCK JONNEK (you people are coming) 

MAGA MEGY (you are going) 

MAGUK MENNEK (you people are going) 


Note: ON and ONc'K are more formal than MAGA and MAGUK . 
The latter are also used as reflexive pronouns• See next 
page. 


The declension of the pronoun is very irregular. 
The objective (accusative) case for example is: 


ENGEM (me) 

TfeGED,MAGAT,CNT (you) 


OT 


MINKET,BENNt)NKET (us) 
TITEKETj,BENNETEKET .MAGUKAT, 
ONCKET (you) 
(him,her,it)|CKET (them) 


The pronoun does not take on adverbial endings; 
instead the adverbial particles take on pronoun endings. 


Therefore the declension of the pronotm with the adverbial 
particle -BAN* -BEN (in) is as follows £ 


BENNEM (in me) 

BENNED (in you) 

BENNE (in him.her,it) 


BENNONK (in us) 
BENNETEK (in you) 
BENNtlK (in them) 











- 61 - 


With the adverbial particle -VAL, -VEL (with) : 


VELEM (with me) 

velOnk 

(with us) 

VELED 

(with you) 

VELETEK 

(with you) 

VELE 

(with him,her,it) 

VELtlK 

(with them) 


With the adverbial particle -RA, -RE (onto) : 


RAM 

(onto me) 

rank 

(onto us) 

rAd 

(onto you) 

rAtok 

(onto you) 

RA 

(onto him,her,it) 

rAjtik 

(onto them) 


Sometimes for stress the personal pronoun is prefixed 
to a particle which already has a pronoun suffix. For 
example: 


£n BENNEM 
&N VELEM 

EN RAM 

(in me.within me) 
(with me) 

(onto me) 


&NRAJTAM (on me) 


MIRAJTUNK 

(on us) 

TERAJTAD (on you) 

TIRAJTATOK 

(on you) 

5RAJTA (on him,her,it) 

Orajtuk 

(on them) 


NEKEM (for me) is expressed often by SZAMOMRA, or 
R&SZEMRE. For example: 


NEKEM VETTE EZT AZ <5rAT | 

SZAMOMRA VETTE EZT AZ <5RAT>(he bought this watch for me) 
RESZEMRE VETTE EZT AZ <3 rATJ _ 


Note: Postpositions , standing after pronouns, are 
declined in the same way . For example: 


(6n) HTANAM(after me) 

(TE) UTANAD(after you) 

(0) UTANA (after him f her,it) 

(MI) UTANUNK (after us) 
(TI) UTANATOK (after you) 

( 5) OTANUK (after them) 

FOLOTTEM (above me) 

F0LOTTED (above you) 

FCLOTTE (above him,her,it) 

FOLOTTONK (above us) 

FOLGTTETEK (above you) 

FCLOTTOK (above them) 


















REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS 


Reflexive pronouns are used when the action 
"is reflected upon” the subject* Reflexive pronouns are 
built by adding the personal endings to MAG-. Thus: 


MAGAM 

(myself) 

MAGUNK 

(ourselves) 

MAGAD 

(youself) 

MAGATOK 

(yourselves) 

MAGA 

(him-,her-,itself) 

MAGUK 

(themselves) 


For example: 


MAGAM VAGYOK (I am by myself) 

MEGVAGTA MAGAT (he cut himself) 

F&SULI MAGAT (he combs himself) 


These pronouns also have separate forms used to 
form emphatic subjects * Note the changes in form and the 
three combinations written together. Thus: 


fiN MAGAM (ENMAGAM) 
TE MAGAD (TENMAGAD) 
5 MAGA (SNMAGA) 

(I myself) 

(you yourself) 

(he himself,she herself, 

it itself) 

MI MAGUNK (MIMAGUNK) (we ourselves) 

TI MAGATOK(TIMAGATOK)(you yourselves) 

OK MAGUK (6NMAGUK) (they themselves) 

Examples: 



ONMAGA nem MEGY 

(he himself can't move) 


ENMAGAMAT VADOLOM 

(I blame myself) 



Sometimes the word SAJAT (own) is used instead of 
the emphatic personal pronoun. Thus 
SAJAT MAGAMAT VADOLOM(I blame myself) 











RECIPROCAL PRONOUNS 


When the action of two or more acting parties is 
distributed reciprocally between them, we use the reciprocal 
pronoun EGYMAS (EGY:one, MAS:other) instead of personal 
pronouns. For example: 


LATJUK EGYMAST (we see each other) 

MEGFfcRNEK EGYMASSAL (they get along with each other) 
VEREKEDNEK EGYMASSAL (they fight with each other) 


POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS 


ENYfcM (mine) MIENK (ours) 

TIED (yours) TIETEK (yours) 

OV& (his,her.its) OV&C (theirs) 


Examples: 


EZ A KGNYV AZ ENYEM (this book is mine) 
EZ A HAZ AZ OV£ (this house is his) 
AZ ASZTAL A MIENK (the table is ours) 


In the case of more then one possession the possessive 
pronoun receives an -I (and not-K as the plain plural) . For 
example: 

ENYfelM (mine) MIEINK (ours) 

TIEID (yours) TIEITEK (yours) 

CVfil (his .her, its) OVfelK (theirs) 


Examples: 


EZEK A KGNYVEK AZ ENYfelM (these books are mine) 
A HAZAK AZ OVEI (the houses are his) 














-64 - 


The possessive pronoun in Magyar can be expressed 
also by a possessive suffix added to the possession. 


one possession 

more possessions 

MY is expressed by 

-M 

-IM 

YOUR 

-D 

-ID 

HIS .HER,ITS 

■“A,—JA,—E»—JE 

-AI,-JAI,-El,-JEI 

OUR 

-NK 

-INK 

YOUR 

-T0K, -TEK, -T OK 

-IT0K,-TEK 

THEIR 

-K 

-IK 


For example: 

One possession: 

(AZ £N) HAZAM (my house) (A MI) HAZUNK (our house) 

(A TE) HAZAD (your house) (A TI) HAZATOK (your house) 

(AZ 0) HAZA (his house) (AZ 0) HAZUK (their house) 

More possession: 

(AZ fcN) HAZAIM(my houses) (A MI)HAZAINK (our houses) 

(A TE) HAZAID(your houses) (A Tl)HAZAIT0K (your houses) 

(AZ 0) HAZAI (his houses) (AZ 0)HAZAIK (their houses) 

Note: words ending in short vowel do not take -JAI, 
-JEI (sing. 3rd person), only -I in case of more possessions. 
For example: 

KATONAJA (his soldier) KATONAl (his soldiers) 

Words ending in a vowel lengthen the vowel if shorthand 
take the links -JU-, -Jtt- before -K (not before -IK).For 









-65- 


example:. 


KATONA (soldier) 

katonAjuk 

katonaik 

(their soldier) 
(their soldiers) 

SZOBA (room) 

szobAjtjk 

szobAik 

(their room) 
(their rooms) 


Words ending in a consonant require a linking vowel . 
For -M as for plural, and for -IM it is identical with the 
suffix of "his, her, its,". For example: 

ABLAK (window) ABLAK-O-K (windows) ABLAK-A (his window) 
therefore : 

ABLAK-O-M (my window) ABLAK-A-IM (my windows) 
HAZ (house) HAZ-A-K (houses) HAZ-A (his house) 

therefore : 

HAZ-A-M (my house) HAZ-A-IM (my houses) 

The possessor suffix -E, added to nouns (MAGA, MAGUE, 
ON, 5N0K behave like nouns), provides a form which we can 
call the possessor-pronoun : it combines the possessor and 
a pronoun representing the possession. Plurality is shown 
by the same -I as above, it is however, often dropped, 
especially when -E folDows a vowel. For example: 

EZ A HAZ A BARATOM& (this is my friend’s house) 

KI& EZ A HAZ ? (whose house is this ?) 

BARATJA£ EZEK ? (are these your friend*s ?) 

A KATONAe EZEK A PUSKAK. (these are the soldier's rifles) 














- 66 


DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS 


If everyone can see the book on the table, we do 
not have to name it, if we point at it. We can simply say: 
EZ (this). If the book has red binding,we can say:ILYEN 
(such); and finally, if there are three books on the table 
we can say: ENNYI(this much).These words are demonstrative 
pronouns. 

The demonstrative pronouns in English are: this(one), 
these, that(one), those. In Magyar the demonstrative pro¬ 
nouns, which contain front vowels refer to things nearby : 
those with back vowels refer to distant things . 

The most frequently used demonstrative pronouns are: 
In place of nouns : 

EZ* (this) 

AZ** (that) 

EMEZ (this other) 

AMAZ (that other) 

UGYANEZ (the same as this) 

UGYANAZ (the same as that) 


Examples: 


EZ AZ &N HAZAM (this Is my house) 

AZ NEM AZ fcN HAZAM (this is not my house) 

EMEBBE A SZOBABA MENJEN (go in this other room) 

UGYANEBBOL ADJON (give me from the same) 

UGYANAZT ADJA AMIT TEGNAP ADOTT (give the same as yesterday) 


*) EZ-VEL a EWEL; EZ-A « E EME 

**) AZ-VAL a AWAL; AZ-A a A AMA 










In place of adjectives: 


- 6? 


ILY,ILYEN.EMILYEN (one like this) 
OLY t OLYAN,AMOLYAN (one like that) 
ILYESFlJLE (one somewhat like this) 
OLYASFfeLE (one somewhat like that) 
UGYANILYEN(one exactly like this) 
UGYANOLYAN(one exactly like that) 
EKKORA (this big) 

AKKORA (that big) 


Examples: 


ILYEN KOR(]LM£NYEK KCZCTT (in these circumstances) 

ILYEN PAPIRT VEGYEN (buy a paper like this) 

AMOLYAN PAPtRT VEGYEN (buy a paper like that) 

OLYAN PAPIRT VEGYEN MINT EZ(buy a paper like this) 

ILYESFflLE HAZAT AKAROK (I want to have a house somewhat 


UGYANOLYAN HAZAT AKAROK 

EKKORA HALAT FOGOTT 
AKKORA MINT EGY HAZ 


like this) 

(I want to have a house exactly 
like that) 

(he caught a fish this big) 

(it is as big as a house) 


In place of numerals: 


ENNYI (this much) 

ANNYI (that much) 

UGYANENNYI(exactly this much) 
UGYANANNYl(exactly that much) 

Examples : 


MENNYIT AKAR? ENNYI EL&G? 
ANNYIT AKAROK,MINT 0 
ADJON ISMfeT UGYANENNYIT 
UGYANANNYIT AKAROK MINT 0 


(how much do you v/ant? is this 
much enough? ) 

(I want to have as much as he 
wants) 

(give me exactly this much 
again) 

(I want to have exactly as much 
as he wants) 






INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS 


Interrogative pronoun is one that introduces a question 
either direct or indirect. 


KI? (who?) asks concerning persons 
MI? (what?) asks identity of an object or matter 
in question 

MELY? MELYIK (which?) asks the identity of one or 
more persons or things in a group 


Examples: 


KI AZ OTT? 

(who is that there?) 

KIT LAT? 

(whom do you see?) 

MI AZ? 

(what is that?) 

MIT AKAR? 

(what do you want?) 

MIVEL IR? 

(what are you writing with?) 

MELYIK EMBER? 

(which man?) 


In Magyar the interrogative quantity terms and 
interrogative quality terms are grouped under the 
interrogative pronouns,although having adjective force. 


Interrogative Quality Terms (standing for adjectives) : 

MILY? MILYEN? MIF&LE? MIFAJTA? MINO? (what sort of?) 
MEKKORA? (what size of?) 

Examples : 


MILYEN CIPOT KERES? 

(what sort of shoe are you 

looking for?) 

MILYENT KERES? 

(what sort are you looking for?) 

MIF&LE ASZTALR0L VOLT SZ<5?(what sort of table was 


discussed?) 

MEKKORA KALAPOT VISEL? 

(what size of hat are you 

wearing?) 

MEKKORA A HAZ? 

(how big is the house?) 






- 69 * 


Interrogative Quantity Terms standing for numerals : 

HANY? (how many?) 

MENNYI? (how much ?) 

HANYADIK? (which by number ?) 

Examples: 


HANY EMBER VAN ITT? (how many persons are here?) 
MENNYIT AKAR? # (how much do you want?) 

HANYADIK SZ&KEN t)L? (on which numbered cnair are you 

sitting?) 


RELATIVE PRONOUNS 


A relative pronoun is one which relates to an 
antecedent substantive which may be either expressed or 
implied. In Magyar the relative pronouns are made by 
prefixing A- to the interrogative pronouns . 


AKI (who) is used v/hen the antecedent is 

a person 

AMI* (that,what) may refer to a thing 

AMELY, AMELYIK(which) may refer to a person or a 
thing in a group 

Examples: 


AZ EMBER,AKI BESz£L,MAGYAR (the man who speaks is a Magyar 
(AZ EMBER) AKI JON, AZ APAM ((the man) who comes is my 

father) 

AKI SZERETI A BORT.ROSSZ EMBER NEM LEHET (one who likes 

wine,can not be a bad man) 

AMIT KAPTUNK MIND ROSSZ VOLT (what we got was all bad) 
AZ,AMIT LATTAL J<3 KABAT VOLT (that,what you saw was a good 

coat) 

AZ A KUTYA,AMELYIK UGAT.NEM HARAP (the dog which barks 

does not bite) 


*) In colloquial Magyar AMI is used some times instead of 
AMELY. 










- 70 - 


Relative Quality Terms ( standing for adjectives): 


AMILYEN,AMIN5 (such (kind.sort) as) 
AMEKKORA ((such) big as) 

Examples : 


OLYAT VEGYEN,AMILYET KAP (buy the kind you can get) 

AKKORA L&TRA KELL.AMEKKORA A HAZ(we need a ladder as big 

as the house) 


Relative Quantity Tirms (standing for numerals): 


AHANY (as many as) 

AMENNYI (as much as) 

AHANYADIK (the one of a given number) 

Examples: 


AHANY KONYVET OLVAS TAM .MIND J6 VOLT (all the books I 
have read.were good) 

ANNYIT ADOK,AMENNYIT KERT&L (I will give you 

as much money as you asked for) 
AHANYADIK SORBAN KAPOK JEGYET.OTT CLOK (I will take a 

seat in whatever row I can get a ticket; 
In which ever row I can get a ticket, 
there I will sit) 


INDEFINITE PRONOUNS 


These pronouns stand in place of indefinite.uncertain 
nouns, adjectives, and numerals• To build indefinite 
pronouns in Magyar, modifying prefixes are to added to the 
pronouns introduced in the previous sections. 

VALA (some) gives: 

VALAKI (someone) 

VALAMI (something) 

VALAMILYEN, VALAMIFj&LE,VALAMINO (some sort of) 
VALAMEKKORA (of some size) 

VALAHANY (however many.all* every) 

VALAMENNYI (however much,all) 

VALAMELY,VALAMELYIK (someone of a group) 








71 


Examples: 


VALAKI KOPOG 

LATOK VALAMIT 

ADJON VALAMILYEN ITALT 

MEKKORA VOLT? VALAMEKKORA 

VALAHANYSZOR RA n£)ZEK,FAJ A 

IDE JOTTEK VALAMENNYIEN 
ADOK NEKED VALAMENNYIT 
VALAMELYIK OR LOTT 


(someone is knocking) 

(I see something) 

(give me some sort of a 
drink) 

(how big was it? it was 
of some size) 
FEJEM(as often as I look at 
him, I get a headache) 
(all came here) 

(I give you some) 

(soiftg^gf the guards shot) 


AKAR, BAR (any, - so ever) give: 

AKARKI,BARKI (whoever.anybody) 

AKARMI,BARMI (whatever.anything) 

akArmilyen.bArmilyen,akArmifele,bArmif£le.bArmino, 

AKARMINO (any sort of.whatever sort of) 

AKARMEKKORA,BARMEKKORA(of any size,of whatever size) 
AKARHANY (however many) 

AKARMENNYI .BARMENNYI (however much) 

AKARMELYIK ,BARMELYIK (anyone of a group) 

Examples: 


AKARKI KERDEZ CNTOL VALAMIT.NE FELELJEN (anybody asks you 
something,do not answer) 

BARKIT LAT,AZONNAL SZ(5LJ0N (whoever you see,report 
immediately) 

AKARMI LESZ.ITT MARADOK (whatever will happen,I will 
stay here) 

BARMIT k£rdEZEK,NEM VALASZOL(whatever I ask him, he does 
not answer) 

MONDHAT BARMIT,NEM HALLOM (you can say anything, I can 
not hear you) 

ITT VEHET AKARMILYEN KCNYVET(you may buy any sort of books 
here) 

BARMIFELE EMBER KOPOG.ERESSZE BE (whoever (whatever type 
of man )knocks on your door ,let him in) 

AKARMEKKORA HEGYRE FELMASZOK (I climb up mountains of 
any sizej 

AKARHANY EMBERREL BESZtLTEM.EGYIK SEM LATTA (no matter 
hov/ many men I spoke to,no one has seen him) 

ADHAT AKARMENNYTT (you may give me as many much as you 
wish) 

AKARMELYIK KOCSIT MEGVESZEM (I will buy any car) 





- 72 - 


MINDEN (every,all) gives: 

MINDENKI (everyone) 

MIND.MINDEN (everything,every,all) 
MINDENFELE (of every sort,all sorts of) 

Examples: 


MINDENKI MARADJON ITT (everybody stay here) 
MINDEN MEBER HALAND0 (every man is mortal) 

MIND MEGHALTAK (all died) 

MINDENT ADJON VISSZA (give back everything) 
MINDENFELE EMBERT LATTAM (I saw all sorts of people) 


SE,SEM (no-) give: 

SENKI* * (nobody) 

SEMMI (nothing) 

SEMILYEN,SEMMIFELE,SEMINO(no sort of) 
SEMEKKORA (of no size) 

SEMENNYI (of no quantity.none) 

SEMELYIK (none of a group) 

Examples : 


SEMI SINCS ITT (nobody is here) 

SEMMI SINCS ITT (nothing is here) 

SEMMIT SEM HOZTAM (I brought nothing) 

SEMILYEN BORT SEM ISZOM (I drink no sort of wine) 
MEKKORA HALAT FOGOTT? SEMEKKORAT (what size fish did 

you catch? no size nothing) 
MENNYI PENZT AKAR? SEMENNYIT (how much do you want? 

nothing) 

MELYIK A B0n5s? SEMELYIK (which is guilty? none) 


Exceptions : 

In place of indefinite nouns Magyar uses some addi¬ 
tional indefinite pronouns: 

KIKI (each one person) 

NEMELY,NEMELYIK (one...or other) 

EGYIK (one of a number) 

MASIK (the other one) 

*) Note•the modification of M to N before K« 








73 


Examples: 


KIKI MARADJOH A HELY&N (everybody (each of you) stay) 
NEMELYIK EMBER MEGTESZI. NfeMELYIK NEM (one man will,the 
other will not) 

EGYIK EMBER IDE JGTT, A MASIK ELMENT (one man came here, 
the other left) 

EGYIKOK SEM KATONA (neither one Is a soldier) 

EGYIKtJNK KIUGRIK (one of us will jump) 

A MAS IK LECKflT TANULJA (study the other lesson) 


CHART OF PRONOUNS 


KIND OF PRONOUN 

IN PLACE OF WHAT 
IS BEING USED 

EXAMPLES | 

Personal 

Noun 

£n mi 

TE,MAGA,0N TI,MAGUK, GnOK 

0 OK 

Reflexive 

Noun 

MAGAM MAGUNK 

MAGAD HAGATOK 

MAGA MAGUK 

Reciprocal 

Noun 

egymAs 

Possessive 

Noun 

ENYfe I M MIE I NK 

TIE ID TIE I TEK 

GVE I OVt I K 

Demonstrative 

Noun 

-EZ.AZ. UGYANEZ. UGYANAZ , 

Adjective 

ILYEN.OLYAN 

Numeral 

ENNYI »ANNYI 

Interrogative 

Noun 

KI? MI? 

Adjective 

MILYEN? MING? 

Numeral 

hAny? mennyi? 

Relative 

Noun 

AKT.AMI 

Adjective 

AMILYEK.AMINO 

Numeral 

AHAN Y • AlffiNN YI 

Indefinite 

Noun 

VALAKI.BARKI.SENKI. 

Adjective 

VALAMILYEN.BARMILYEN 

Numeral 

valahAny , akArhany 





































- 74 


CHAPTER VI 
THE ARTICLES 


In English the definite article is "the", the inde¬ 
finite article is "a" ("an")* 


THE DEFINITE ARTICLE: A, AZ 


The definite article is used in Magyar as "the" in 
English. However, A is retained before a word beginning 
with consonant, AZ is used before a word beginning with a 
vowel• For example: 


A KATONA 

(the soldier) 

A MAGYAR HADSEREG 

(the Hungarian Army) 

AZ EMBER 

(the man) 

AZ ASZTAL 

(the table) 


Exceptions : 

(a) Before names of people the article is used very 
rarely. 

(b) ln proverbs the article is not used before words 
of general meaning and this happens in a great number of 
cases • 


Examples : 


0 LIMBERGH? (is he the Limbergh?) 

PISTA ELUTAZOTT (Pista departed) 

EMBER TERVEZ, ISTEN V&GEZ (man plans,God disposes) 







75 


THE INDEFINITE ARTICLE: EGY 


In Magyar EGY is rarely used as an indefinite article 
(English "a.an"). When EGY is used it is normally equivalent 
to the numeral "one". 

For example: 


KATONA ALL A KAPU ELOTT (a soldier stands in front of 

the gate) 

EGY KATONA ALL A KAPU ELOTTCone soldier stands in front of 

the gate) 

EGY KATONA A HARMADIK SZAKASZB<5L(a soldier from the third 
platoon) 


Note: Indefinite article is never used in front of 
such words which tell WHAT IS something or someone. 


For example: 


PAL BATOR KATONA 

and not: PAL EGY BATOR KATONA 


(Paul is a brave soldier) 

EZ ZOLD PA 

and not: EZ EGY ZOLD FA 


(this is a green tree) 


i 










- 76 


CHAPTER VII 
ADVERBS * 

Words that modify verbs,adjectives or other adverbs, 
are adverbs, and answer the questions HOGYAN? (how?), 
MIKOR?(when?) , HOL? (where?), or MEDDIG? (to what degree?). 
Examples : 

ITT MELEG VAN (here is warm) MELEG modifies VAN 

J(3L BESZ&L MAGYARUL (he speaks Hungarian well) JdL 

modifies MAGYARUL 

FORM AND DERIVATION OF ADVERBS * 

Pertaining to origin, adverbs are classed into six 
groups : 

(1) Independent adverbs 

(2) Postpositions 

(3) Prefixes of verbs 

(4) Suffixes of substantives 

(5) Gerund 

(6) Other words used as adverbs 

*) See also page 97,ADVERBS CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO THEIR 
MEANING AND USE. 






- 77 - 


(1) Independent adverbs. Adverbs which can stand by 
themselves are called independent adverbs• For example: 

ITT VAN. HOL VAN? ITT (You are here.Where are you?Here) 

AKKOR MEGYEK AMIKOR AKAROK(I go whenever I want) 

HOGYAN CSINALT? IGY? (How did he do it? So?). 

MEDDIG MARAD ITT? (How long will you stay here?) 

(2) Postpositions . A few adverbs can not stand alone; 
they occur only with other words. These are called post¬ 
positions .and serve the same function as English prepositions. 
Generally, postpositions are written separately but sometimes 
they are written with substantives. For example: 

A HAZ ELOTT ALL (he stands in front of the house) 

A PARANCS SZERINT JART EL (he acted according to the order) 

AZ UTAN ELMENT (then after he left) 

ALAKJARA N6ZVE NAGY (with regard to its size.it is 

large) 

(3 ) Prefix of the verb . The verbal prefix (affix) is 
usually written in one word with the verb. For example: 

BEMEGY A SZOBABA (he enters (goes into) the room) 

£ 

VISSZAN AZETT a KOCSIBtfL (he looked back from the car) 

However, in certain cases the verbal prefix is 
separated and some times written after the verb. 















- 78 - 


The verbal prefix stands : 


before the verb 


after the verb 


(a)no part of the sentence is 
stressed .For example: 

A VONAT ELUENT(the train left^MENJEN 


(b) if the verbal prefix is 
stressed.For example: 


MEGJOTT A VONAT(the train 
arrived) 


(c) if the prefix and another 
adverb is stressed as well. 
For example: 

MINDEN VONAT ELUENT (every 
train left) 

REGGEL ELUENT A VONAT (the 
train left in the 
morning) 

(d) if the word IS also,too 
stands between the emphasized 
word and the predicate. For 
example: 

A VONAT IS ELUENT (the train 
also left) 


(a) if the verb is stressed. 
For example: 

ELI (go away) 

(b) if another part of the 
sentence is stressed than 
the prefix.For example: 

UOST JGTT UEG A VONAT (the 
train arrived just now) 

Note: Negative words such as 
NEU.NE, SEU,SE,etc. are always 
considered as stressed words. 
Therefore: 

A VONAT NEM JOTT UEG (the 
train did not arrive) 

(c) if the prefix and the 
negative of an adverb is 
stressed .For example: 

NEM UINDEN VONAT MENT EL 
(not every train left) 

NEM REGGEL MENT EL A VONAT 
(the train did not leave 
in the morning) 

(d) if the word IS also,too 
stands between the emphasized 
word and the imperative pre¬ 
dicate.For example: 

A VONAT IS MENJEN ELI(the 

train shall leave also!) 


When the predicate consist of two parts verb and 
infinitive of another verb the word order is : 

(1) prefix (2) verb (3) infinitive of the other verb. 









- 79 ~ 


For example: 

A VONATNAK EL KELL MENNI (the train has to leave) 

A VONATOT MEG AKAROM N&ZNI (I wish to see the train) 

The verbal prefix MEG adds to the verb the aspect 
of completed action or inclusive action, or adds emphasis 
to the verb. A transitive or intransitive verb prefixed by 
MEG remains either transitive or intransitive. For example: 


A SAROKBAN ALL (he stands in the corner) 

A VONAT MEGlLLT AZ ALL0MAS0N(the train stopped by the 

station) 

A KACSARA L(5TT (he shot at the duck and may 

have missed it) 

MEGLQTTE A KACSAT (he shot the duck) 

A GYERMEK EB£DET ESZIK (the child is eating dinner) 

A GYERMEK MEGESZI AZ EB&DET(the child is eating his dinner 

up) 

A GAZDANAK VAN LOVA (the farmer has a horse) 

"MEGVAN A LOVAM M (when the farmer found his horse, 

he said: f, I have him") 


When answering in the affirmative a question which 
contains one of these verbal prefixes, we simply repeat 
the prefix instead of saying IGEN (yes). For example: 


ALAlRTA EZT A LEVELET? ALA.(did you sign this letter?Yes.) 
VISSZAJON? VISSZA . (are you coming back? Yes.) 

MEGALL? MEG . (does it stop? Yes.) 


Doubling the verbal prefix expresses an often 


repeated action. For example: 





















BE-BEMEGY (he keeps on popping in) 

MEG-MEGALL (he stops: repeatedly) 

KI-KINEZ (he looks out repeatedly) 

VISSZA-VISSZAJAR (he comes back repeatedly) 

Some verbal prefixes may be joined. For example: 

OSSZE-VISSZA BESZ&L (he talks nonsense) 

(4) Adverbs may be formed by adding suffixes to other 
words (substantives). For example: 


ASZTAL 

(table) 

AS ZT ALB AN 

(in the table) 

HAZ 

(house) 

HAZHOZ 

(to the house) 

NAGY 

(big) 

NAGYON 

(very) 

MELEG 

(warm) 

MELEGEN 

(warmly) 

SZ&P 

(nice) 

SZEPEN 

(nicely) 


(5) Gerund are used as adverbs. For example: 

FUTVA J£)N (he comes running) 

SIETVE ELOLVASTA AZ UJSAGOT(he read the paper hurriedly) 


(6) Some other words (substantives) may be used 
instead of adverbs. For example: 


HOLNAP MEGYONK 

(tomorrow we go) 

vasArnap VISSZAJON 

(he comes back on Sunday) 


*** Adverbs classified according to their meaning and use 


see page 97 


*** 


















CHAPTER VIII 
THE CONJUNCTIONS 


Conjunctions are words which connect words, phrases, 
or clauses. According to their functions there are 
co-ordinating and subordinating conjunctions. 

CO-ORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS 


which connect co-ordinating clauses: 


(1) 

Additive or 

'6s, s 

(and) 


copulative 


IS 

(also) 



Ask 

SEM 

(neither) 



A* J 

SE 

(nor) 




S5T 

(even,indeed) 




|m6g...is 

(yet,..also) 




'is...IS 

(as well as) 




SEM.. .SEM 

(neither..nor) 




NEMOSAK...HANEM 

(not only...but) 




NEMCSAK...HANEM...IS 

(not only...but also) 




MIND...MIND 

(both,so as) 




R&3ZINT.. .RfcSZINT 

(partly...partly) 




EGYRfcSZT...MASRfeZT 

(on the one hand.•. 





on the other) 

(2) 

Contrasting 


DE.AMDE,HANEM 

(but) 




AZONBAN 

(but .however) 




ELLENBEN 

(on the other hand) 



A*< 

PEDIG 

M&GIS 

(though.while,yet.but) 
(yet.still) 




M&GSEM.MEGSE 

(not...after all) 




CSAKHOGY 

(only that) 




MINDAMELLETT 

(for all that) 




mindazonAltal 

(nevertheless) 



B* 

none 



*) A = simple; B— correlative conjunctions 










- 82 - 


(3) Separative or A JrAGY 
disjunctive |AVAGY 


(either,or) 
(cr) 


(4) Deductive 


AGY-VAGY 
-AKAR 


either.•.or) 
neither.•.nor) 


HAT 

TEHAT 

AZERT 


(therefore,wel?) 

(therefore) 

(that is whaytherefore) 
(according to this) 

- (consequently) 

ENNEK KOyETKEZTEBEN (for this cause) 
KCVETKEZOLEG (consequently) 
KGVETKEZESKftPEN (as a consequence) 


mJESZERINT 

Henn&fcgva 


(5) Explanative 


B*none 


UGYANIS 
UGYMINT 
TUDNIILLIK 
AvHISZ,HISZEN 
AZAZ 
VAGYIS 
KfiGPEDIG 


If none 


(namely) 

( such as) 

(namely) 

(but ,why) 

(that is to say) 
(that is, namely) 

( and what is more) 


SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS 
connecting subordinate clauses: 


( 1 ) 

Subjective 

HOGY 

(that) 

( 2 ) 

Objective 

HOGY 

(that) 

(3) 

Adverbial 

HA 

(if 



habAh .BAR 

,NOHA.J0LLEHET(though.although 



HOGY 

(that.whether) 



HINT 

(as) 



HINTHA 

(as though,as if) 



IJIKfiP 

(how,in what manner) 



UGYHOGY 

(so that) 



HERT 

(because) 



MIVEL 

(since,as) 



HOGYNE 

( certainly) 



NEHOGY 

(lest,for fear,so that) 



MINTHOGY 

( since .whereas .. .not) 



HABAR 

( although) 



MINTSEM 

(than...do this or that) 



HOLOTT 

(though .whereas) 


*) A =simple 5 B »correlative conjunctions 















- 83 - 

CHAPTER IX 
THE INTERJECTIONS 

Interjections express strong feeling. They are not 
linked syntactically with other words.Some interjections are? 


Cl) For the expression of 
good humor 

HAJt (hurrayl) 

IHAJl 

CSUHAJl 

UJUJl 

SEJt 

SEJHAJt 

(2) For the expression of 
sorrow or pain 

cJAJt (ouchl) 

6 \„ (ohl) 

TYUl (ouchl) 

(3) For the encouragement 
of others 

NOl (let us ...) 

NOSZAl (come onl) 

ucctfi 

HAJRAl (onward l) 

RAJTAl (come onl) 

(4) For quieting people 

CSITTl (hush!) 

PSZT! (pst!) 

(5) For soothing babies 

TENTE (sh-s) 

CSICSIJA 

(6) For calling animals 

NE-NE*. (here pig...) 

CI-CI-CI ... (ketty,ketty...) 

PI-PI-PI... (here chicken...) 

BUR I-BtJRI-BURI. .(here duck...) 

(7) For urging animals on 

GYI! (giddap!) 

H<Jl (whoei) 

SICCI (shoo!) 

HESS! (shoo!) 










FART THREE 





PARTS 0? SENTENCES 
























































































































































-■85 - 


INTRODUCTION 

MAIN PARTS OF SENTENCES 


(l) The PREDICATE expresses the essence of our statement 
We can find it most easily if we ask the questions^What do 
we say?" or "What are we stating?" in the sentence.For 
example: 


ON MOST MAGYAR KONYVET OLVAS (you are now reading a 

Hungarian book! 

ESIK AZ ESO (the rain is falling ) 

APAM KATONA (my father is a soldier) 


(2) The SUBJECT is a thing or a person about which we 
state something. It answers the questions "who?" and "what?" 
For example: 


ON MOST MAGYAR KONYVET OLVAS ( you are now reading a 
— Hungarian book) 

ESIK AZ ESO ( the rain is falling) 

APAM KATONA ( my father is a soldier) 


ADDITIONAL PARTS OF SENTENCE 


(3)The OBJECT names the thing or person upon which the 


action is directed. It answers the questions "whom?" and 
"what?". For example: 


















- 86 - 


CN MOST MAGYAR KONYVET OLVAS (you are now reading a 

Hungarian book ) 

(4) The ADVERB defines the place.time.mood.condition, 
cause,purpose,means.origin,result.measure of the actions, 
things, or qualities. It answers the questions:"where?". 

"from where?", "to where?", "in which direction?","how far?". 
Furthermore: "when?"."since when?","by when?","how?","for 
what purpose?"."with what?","with whom?",etc. For example: 

CN MOST MAGYAR KONYVET OLVAS (you are now reading a 

Hungarian book) 

( 5 ) The ATTRIBUTE in the sentence serves to define 

the quality, size, or place in sucession of someone or 
something.. T t tells about something or someone to whom 
(or what) it belongs to. It answers the questions :"what 
kind?","what type?","how many?","how much?"."which place 
in a line?" ."whose?" ,"of what?",etc .For example: 

CN MOST MAGYAR KONYVET OLVAS (you are now reading a 

Hungarian book) 

* * * 

%ny sentences have no other parts beyond the subject 
and the predicate. Such sentences are called simple sentences . 
For example: 


GN OLVAS (you read,or you are reading) 













- 87 - 


The simple sentence, however, can be enlarged by the 
addition of the object,adverb, and attribute. Such sentence 
then, which contains other "parts of sentence", beside the 
subject and the predicate, is called a compound sentence . 
For example: 


ON MOST MAGYAR KONYVET OLVAS (You are now reading a 

Hungarian book.) 


In some sentences there are more than one 
predicate,subject,object, and adverb. Such predicate,subject, 
etc. are called compound predicate, compound subject, eto. 

For example: 


ITT ALLJUNK MEG ES VARJUNK (let us stop and wait here) 

Two predicates • 

PAL £s PfiTER IS OTT VOLT ( Paul and Peter were also there^ 

Two subjects . 

HETET - HAVAT OSSZEBESZEL (talks nonsense) 

In Hungarian:Two objects . 

SZEP,MAGYAR KONYVET OLVAS (he is reading a nice Hungarian 

book) Two attributes. 


















CHART SHOWING PARTS OF SENTENCE 


MAIN 

PARTS 

PREDICATE Its questions: 

What do we say? 

What are we stating? 

SUBJECT Its questions: 

Who? 

What? 

ADDI¬ 

TIONAL 

PARTS 

OBJECT Its questions: 

Whom? 

What? (acc.) 

ADVERB Its questions: 

Where? 

From where? 

To where? 

In which direction? 

How far? 

When? 

Since when? 

By when? 

How? 

For what purpose? 

For what reason? 

With whom? 

With what? 

ATTRIBUTE Its questions: 

What kind? 

What type? 

How many? 

How much? ' 

Whose? 

Of what? 

Which place in a line? 











CHAPTER I 


THE PREDICATE 


The predicate is the most important part of the sentence . 
We can find it in the sentence by asking ”what are we saying?” 9 
”what do we state?. For example: 


KONYVET OLVAS 

(he reads a book) 

Verb 

apAm katona 

(my father is a soldier) 

Noun 

az £g kek 

(the sky is blue) 

Adjective 

EGY A GONDOLATUNK 

(our thoughts are one) 

Numeral 

KGD ELGTTE.KGD UTANA (fog before him and after him) 

Adverb 

We can see from 

these examples that the predicate in 


Magyar can be a verb-, as well as a substantive. However, we 
can also find such sentences as: 

0 JOVORE PlAK MARAD (he will be a student next year,too) 

A MADAR TARKA VOLT (the bird was many colored ) 

TE IS DIAK LESZEL (you will also be a student ) 

In these sentences the predicate consists of two words : 
a verb and a substantive. This is what we call complex 
predicate. Such complex predicate can be connected to only 
the verbs in Magyar: 
























- 90 


VAN (NINCS) (is (is not)) 

LESZ (LEHET) (will be (may be)) 

MARAD (MARADHAT)(remains (may remain)) 

In English the predicate is a verb which expresses 
number.person,tense, and mood. This is sometimes complemented 
by another word, a predicate modifier. Since the 3rd person 
present indicative of "to be" is very often omitted in Magyar, 
the predicate consists only of the predicate modifier. The 
3rd person present indicative of LENNI (to be) :VAN and 
VANNAK is omitted in any clause, whether independent or 
dependent, which contains a subject followed by an adjective 
or substantive which is merely equated with the subject. 

Therefore VAN (VANNAK)is not used in a Magyar clause 
if we can ask WHO? or WHAT? about the subject. For example: 

A SZAB 6 J 6 (the tailor (is) good) Who? The tailor. 

AZ APAM KAT0NA(my father (is) a soldier) Who? My father. 

AZ 6g KkK (the sky (is) blue) ’’'/hat? The sky. 

A HAZ NAGY (the house (is) big) What? The house. 

VAN (VANNAK) must be used when asking WHERE? or HOW? 
about the subject, and when asking whether it EXISTS. For 
example: 

A SZABtf J(5L VAN (the tailor is well) How? Well 

NAGY ABLAKAI VANNAK(it has large windows) How? Large. 

VAN VONAT? (is there a train?) Exists? Yes. 

A HAZ KINT VAN (the house is outside) Where? Outside. 










- 91 - 

The negative of VAN (VANNAK)Is NINCS (NINCSENEK) . 
For example: 

A HAZ NINCS A KERTBEN (the house is not in the garden) 
NINCSENEK NAGY ABLAKAI (it does not have large windows) 

SINCS (SINCSENEK) means "nor is there” ("nor are 
there^O . For example: 

NINCS ABLAK £s AJTG SINCSEN (there is no window, and there 

is not a door either) 

SEM bears the same relationship to NEM as SINCS to 
NINCS• For example: 

NEM VAGYOK KATONA &S 0 SEM AZ (I am not a soldier and 

neither is he) 


THE NUMBER OF THE PREDICATE 

The predicate, similar to the subject, always has a 
number. The predicate modifier agrees in number with the 
predicate even if the predicate is omitted (VAN,VANNAK). 
For example: 

AZ EMBER JON (the man comes) 

AZ EMBEREK JONNEK (the men come) 

AZ EMBER ROSSZ (VAN) (the man is bad) 

AZ EMBEREK ROSSZAK (VANNAK)(the men are bad) 












- 92 


If the subject of a sentence consists of a series of 
common nouns each of which is singular, the verb is singular# 
For example: 

PAPIR.CERUZA 6S TOLL VAN AZ ASZTALON (paper.pencil,and pen 

are on the table) 

If the singular nouns in the compound subject are 
proper nouns, then the predicate is either singular or 
plural. For example: 

pAl,p£ter £s kAroly ELMENT ] 

„ , , >(Paul.Peter.and Charles have 

PAL.P6tER 6s KAroly ELMENTEKl gone) 


THE PERSON OF THE PREDICATE 

If the predicate is a verb, it expresses the person 
of the subject. When the compound subject contains one or 
more personal pronouns. the person of the verb corresponds 
to the grammatical person named by the smallest number 
(1st person and 2nd person takes 1st person plural verb* 

2nd person and 3rd person takes 2nd person plural verb;etc.)# 
For example: 

6n 6s P6TER OLVAS UNK (I and Peter (we) are reading) 

TE 6s A DIAKOK MENTEK MOZIBA(You and the students (are) 

going to the movies) 












- 93 - 


CHAPTER II 
THE SUBJECT 


The subject of a sentence is the word (or group of 
words) denoting that of which the predicate says something * 
The subject is a noun or a word used as a noun. For example: 


A KATONA KONYVET OLVAS 

(the soldier reads a 

book) Noun. 

HALLGATNI ARANY 

(to listen is golden) 

Infinitive. 

A MELEG NAGY 

(the heat is great) 

Adjective. 


THE INDEFINITE SUBJECT 

(1) AZ EMBER ("one") and AZ EMBEREK ("they") are used 
as indefinite subjects. They take 3rd person singular and 
3rd person plural of the verb respectively. For example: 

HA AZ EMBER ESZIK,NEM BESZfcL (when one eats,one does 

not speak) 

AZ EMBER AZT HISZI.HOGY VILL^MLIK (one thinks that it is 
_ lightening) _ 

(2) The 3rd person plural of the verb , without an 
expressed subject, is also used in this indefinite sense. 
For example: 

















- 94 


AZT MONDJAK MELEG VAN (they sa: it is warm) 

KOPOGNAK AZ AJT(3N (someone knocks on the door) or 

(they knock on the door) 

HARANGOZNAK A TEMPLOMBAN (someone rings the bell in the 

church) or (they ring...) 


(3) And the infinitive may express the same idea.For 
examples : 

NEM LATNIjHOGY KATONA (one cannot see,that (he is)a soldier) 
HALLGATNI ARANY (to listen (for anyone) is golden) 









- 95 - 


CHAPTER III 
THE OBJECT 

The direct object of a verb is the word which receives 
the action of the verb. For example: 

K5NYVET OLVASOK (I am reading a book) 

The direct object answers the question KIT? (whom?), 
MIT? (what?). 

The direct object in Magyar is nearly always formed 
by adding -T to the noun or pronoun (as above in KIT?) •* 

The object of the sentence is always a noun, or a 
word used as a noun. For example: 


KONYVET OLVASOK 

(I am reading a book) 

HOZOK EGYET 

(I bring you one) 


POSSESSIVE OBJECT 

The suffix of the possessive object is -AT, -ET. 
However, if the word (with possessive suffix) ends in A or E* 
A + AT becomes AT, and E ♦ ET becomes &T. For example: 

LATOM a HAzAT (I see his house) 

OLVASOM A KONYVET (I am reading his book) 

*) Do not confuse the -T suffix of the objective with the 
adverbial suffix of place -T,-TT.(E.g.PECSETT,EGYHELYT). 










- 96 - 


If we add the objective suffix to the possessive 
suffix -JA» -JE 

-JA -f AT becomes -JAT 

and the verb must be in the 
-JE + ET becomes -J&T definite conjugation 


For example: 


VEGYE FEL A KABATJAT (put on your coat) 
OLVASSA A KONYVET (read your book) 


THE SUFFIXLESS OBJECT 

(1) If the object of the verb is an infinitive , it has 
no suffix. For example: 


SZERET BESZ&LNI (he likes to talk) 

(2) The following words may be used as direct objects 
either with or without a suffix: 

(a) MIND (all). For example: 


MIND MEGETTE 
MINDET MEGETTE 


(he ate it all) 


(b) The personal pronoun and the reflexive pronoun 
( in the 1st and 2nd persons) . For example: 


ENGEM SZERESS , 

ENGEMET SZERESS Uove me; 


(c) The substantives with possessive endings in the 
1st and 2nd person singular . For example: 


A KSNYVEM NEM ADOM 
A KCNYVEMET NEM ADOM 


(I won't give my book) 















97 - 


CHAPTER IV 
ADVERBS 

CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO THEIR MEANING 

AND USE 


The origin of adverbs has been discussed on page 76* 
We now deal with adverbs and their meaning and use. Magyar 
has eleven different kinds of adverbs : 


( 1 ) 

( 2 ) 

as 

< 1 ! 

(7) 

( 8 ) 
(9) 

( 10 ) 

( 11 ) 


Adverbs of place 

" " time 

11 M manner 

" ,f cause and reason 

" M provision 

M M means 

" 11 number 

comparison 
11 " measure 

" " degree 

Other adverbs 


(1) ADVERBS OF PLACE 


The adverbs of place answer the questions: HOL? (where?), 
HONNAN? (from where?),HOVA? (to where?), MERRE? (in which 
direction? ) , and MEDDIG? (how far?). 

In order to answer these questions we may use three 
kinds of adverbs: 

PDA MEGYEK (I am going there) Independent 

adverb 

A HAZ MELLfi MEGYEK (I am going to the house) Postposition 

A HAZBA MEGYEK ( I am going into the house) Suffix on 

— substantive 











The use of independent adverbs 


HOYA?' 


HOL? 


HONNAN? 


fel 

le 

,, kint 

ide 

oda 



Examples : 


HOL? (Where?) 


AZ ASZTAL ITT VAN (here is the table) 

AZ ABLAK OTT VAN (there is the window) 

AZ EMBER BENT VAN.AZ EMBER BELtJL VAN (the man is inside) 

A KIJTYA KINT VAN. A KUTYA KIVUL VAN (the cog is outside) 

A MADAR FENT VAN (the bird is up(stairs)) 

AZ EG&R LENT VAN (the mouse is down(stairs)) 

AZ AJTd ELOL VAN (the door is in front) 


HOVA? (To v/here?) 

IDE JGJJONl 

(Come herel) 


ODA MENJENl 

(Go therel) 


MENJEN FELS 

(Go up(stairs*.)) 


J8JJ5N LEI 

(Comedov/n( stairs l)) 


HONNAN? (From v/here?) 

INNEN MENJEN Kit 

(Go out from herel) 


ONNAN MAR ELJGTTEM. 

(I already cane from there) 












































The use of postpositions 


HOVA? HOL? HONNAN? 



Examples : 

HOL? (Where?) 


A HAZ ELOTT ALL AZ AUT<5 (the car is parked in front of the 

house) 

A HAZ FOLOTT REPUL A REPllLOGflP (the plane flies over the 

house) 

AZ ABLAKOK KGZOTT VAN AZ AJT(3 (the door is between the 

windows) 

A HAZ MELLETT ALL A NAGY FA (the big tree stands beside) 

the house 


HOVA? (To where?) 

A HAZ EL& GORDULT AZ AUT(5 (the car rolled in the front of 

the house) 

A HAZ FGLE REPUL A HELIKOPTER (the helicopter flies above 

the house) 

A HAZ MGG£ SZALAD A GYEREK(the child runs behind the house) 


HONNAN? (From where?) 


AZ AUT6 ELUENT A HAZ ELOL (the car left the front of the 

n house) 

A HELIKOPTER ELSZALLT A HAZ FOLUL (the helicopter left 

from above the house) 

A MACSKA KIMASZOTT A HAZ AL(3L (the cat crept out from below 

the house) 















































Use of suffixes with substantives 


HOVA? HOL? HONNAN? 



A HAZBAN VAGYUNK (we are in the house) 

TET(3 VAN A HAZON (there is a roof on the house) 

AZ AUTO ITT ALL A HAZNAL (the car stands alongside the 

--- house) 

HOVA? To where? 


BEMEGYEK A HAZBA (I am going into the house) 

TEGYEN TETCT A HAZRA (put a roof on the house) 

ALL JON AZ AUTOVAL A HAZHOZ (park the car close to the house 
CSAK A HAZIG ITENJEN (only go as far as the house) 


HONNAN? Fron where? 


A HA7B0T J^vr'K ^ (I am coming from the house) 

LEESETT A HAZ TETEJHROL (He fell down from the roof of 

the house) 

AZ AUTO ELTAVOZOTT A HAZT0L(the car moved away from the 

house) 













































- 101 


USE OF ADVERBS OF PLACE 


HOVA? (To where?) 

H0L?(Where?) 

HONNAN?(From where?) 

IDE 

ITT 

INNEN 

ODA 

OTT 

ONNAN 

FEL 

PENT 


LE 

LENT 


... EL& 

... ELOTT 

... ELGL 

. o. FGLE 

... FOLOTT 

... P5L0L 

... MELLE 

... MELLETT 

... MELLOL 

•.« mog6 

... MGGOTT 

. .. MOGUL 

... ALA 

... ALATT 

... AL<5L 

(1) -RA. -RE 

-N,-ON,-EN,-GN,-TT 

-R6L.R0L 

(2) -BA. -BE 

-BAN, - BEN 

-BdL.-BOL 

(3) -H0Z.-HEZ.-H5Z 

-nAl,-n£l 

-TfiL.-TOL 

-IG 



Application of the adverbs of place can be learned 
easily when going over the rows horizontally. Whenever a 
motion TOWARDS a place is described by an adverb listed in 
the first (left) column (IDE, FGL&, or -RA,etc.) f after 
the motion is completed an adverb from the second (middle) 
column must be used to describe WHERE the subject is (ITT, 
ELGTT, or -ON). Consequently when the subject moves AWAY 
from its place the corresponding adverbs in the third 
(right) column are used (INNEN,ELGL, or -R()L). 

Generally speaking, the rule is that the adverb of 
place formed on most foreign names, is the same as in 
English (horizontal Row Number 2). For example: 













102 - 


NEW YORKBA MEGYEK (I am going to New York) 

NEW YORKBAN VAGY0K(I am in New York) 

NEW YORKBtfL J0Y0K (I am coming from New York) 

However, the suffixes of Row Number 1. are added to 
most Hungarian place names, as well as to the words VILAG 
(world), FOLD (earth), VIDEK (countryside), and abstract 
nouns. For example: 

BUDAPESTRE MEGYEK (I am going to Budapest) 

BUDAPESTEN VAGYOK (I am in Budapest) 

BUDAPESTROL JGVGK (I am coming from Budapest) 
ELGADASRA MEGYEK (I am going to a performance) 
ELGADASON VAGYOK (I am at a performance) 

ELCADAsrOL JCVGK (I am coming from a performance) 

The names of a few Hungarian towns take the ancient 
suffix -T or -TT, when answering the question H0L?(Where?) , 
For example: 

PECSETT (at Pecs) VACOTT (at Vac) 

GYGRCTT (at Gyor) KOLOZSVAROTT (at Kolozsvar) 

In adverbs of time, and in a few compound adverbs of 
place the -T and -TT are found. For example : 


UTCAHOSSZAT(T) (along the street) 

NAPHOSSZAT(T) (all day long) 












- 103 - 


( 2) ADVERBS OF TIME 


Adverbs of time answer the questions MIK0R?(when?), 
MlOTA? (since when?) ,MIKORT0L FOGVA? (from what time?) , 
MIKORRA? (by what time?) , and MEDDIG? (till when?) . 


The chart on page 105 attempts to summarize the use 
of some of the adverbs of time. However, attention must be 
called to the fact that the postpositions ELOTT (before), UTXN 
(after) , 0TA(since) t and usually the -IG suffix can be used 


only to refer to a fixed time factor. For example: 


TIZ 0RA ELOTT 

(before ten o*clock) 

TIZ <5RA UTAN 

(after ten o*clock) 


But when talking about a length of time ,these particles 
can not be used.The.preceding phrase cannot be used in the 
sense of "ten hours ago" which is expressed in Magyar: 

TIZ ORAVAL EZELOTT ("by ten hours before this") 

"By" is expressed by -VAL, -VEL. 

Expressions denoting length of time use the word 
H0SSZ(AT),which as a noun means "length".For example: 

KET ORA HOSSZAT UTAZOTT (he travelled for a period (length) 

of two hours) 

The question MENNYI IDEJE VAN M§)G? ("how much time do^ou* 
t (have 

left") (of any understood unit,such as a visit), the answer 

is : 1 












- 104 - 


MEG VAN KfeF (5 rAM (I have two more hours) 

EGY frVE VAN MEG (he has one more year) 

OT NAPJA VAN M&G (he has five more days) 


MIKOR? 



The order of dates in Magyar is the reverse of the 
English system. The ordinal number for the day of the month 
takes the possessive suffix. For example: 


1949. Julius 10-en (July 10, 1949) 


The suffix -N added to the names of the days of the 


week is the equivalent of the English preposition "on": 


H&TF0N (on Monday) CSUTGRTOKON 

KEDDEN (on Tuesday) P&NTEKEN 

SZERDAN (on Wednesday) SZ0MBATON 

but 

VASARNAP (on Sunday) 


(on Thursday) 
(on Friday) 
(on Saturday) 







- 105 - 


MIKOR? 


MULT 
(past) 


JELEN 
(present) 


jov<5 

(future) 


EZ - ELOTT 
(before this) 


MEG 

AZELOTT 


TEGNAPELOTT 


TEGNAF 


-N- 


EZ 


MA 


MOST 
(now] 

-0—K 


E 

(a 

HOLNAP 

z - utAn.mui 

EZ ELMULVAN 
fter this (t 

HOLNAPUTAN 

jVA 

:ime)) 

MEG AZUTAN 





B — A—N- 

(in a few days,soon ) 


(recently,of late) 
***ALLAND<5AN**MINDIG**ALLAND(5AN**MINDIG**ALLAND(5AN**MINDIG*** 


Examples: 


MA St)T A NAP 
TEGNAP HIDEG VOLT 
TEGNAPELOTT HfeTFO VOLT 

HOLNAP CSUTORTOK LESZ 
HOLNAPUTAN P&NTEK LESZ 


(the sun shines today) 

(it was cold yesterday) 

(the day before yesterday was 
Monday) 

(it will be Thursday tomorrow) 
(the day after tomorrow will be 
Friday) 

HOLNAPUTAN MEGIaZUTAN SZOMBAT LESZ (the day after the day 

* after tomorrow well be Saturday) 

TIZ feVVEL EZELOTT NGStiLTEM (I got married ten years ago) 

A (MULT) NAPOKBAN SOK ESO ESETT (a lot of rain fell recently) 
A NAPOKBAN NEW YORKBA UTAZ0M( I shall travel to N.Y. soon) 
1UNDIO BZEP (it is always nice weather) 

ALLAND&AN CSIKAGOBAN TART(3ZK0D0M ( I am staying in Chicago 

- permanently) 

GT EV MULVA KAPOK DIPLOMAT (I shall get a diploma in 

five years) 




























- 106 - 


MlflTA? 


EGY <5RA <5TA 
TEGNAP (5TA 
HAROM NAP (5TA 

(since 
(since 
(since 

one o’clock) 
yesterday) 
three days) 

MEDDIG? 

EGY <5rAIG 

(until 

one o*clock) 

HOLNAPIG 

(until 

tomorrow) 

Hf-TFOIG 

(until 

Monday) 


The suffix - K0R is used to construct time expressions 
both definite and indefinite. When used as an independent 
noun, it means "epoch” ^’tirae","age”. Examples: 


KULTKOR 

(the other day) 

iiAskor 

(at another time) 

EKKOR 

(at this (that) time,then) 

MINDENKOR 

SEMMIKOR 

HAT tfRAKOR 

(at all times) 

(at no times) 

(at six o’clock) 

jOkor jgtt 

(he came in time, or on time) 

KORUNK 

(our age, in our times) 

KATONA KORABAN 

(during his time as a soldier) 

EBBEN A KORBAN 

(in this age) 

(3) 

THE ADVERB OF MANNER 


The adverbs of manner answer such questions as: HOGYAN? 


HOGY? (how?) , MI MdDON? (in what manner?) , and MILYEN ALLA- 


POTBAN j(HELYZETBEN)?( in what condition?)• For example : 


GYORSAN MENJEN KI (go out quickly) 

HITETLENllL NftZETT RAM (he looked at me unbelievingly) 

ELGIRAs SZERINT 0LT0ZK0DIK (he dresses accordinp to regulation! 
SZKDJLVR T/iMOLYGOTT (he staggered dizzily) 












- 107 - 


Generally, adverbs of manner can be formed from adjectives , 
nouns, and numerals by adding -N, -AN, -EN, -L, -UL, -t)L, 

-KlSNT, -KEP, -K&PEN suffixes .(Note: Words ending in vowels 
take -N, -L. If they end in a short vowel, the vowel is 
lengthened.) Examples: 


Adjectives: Adverbs: 


sz£p 

(nice) 

SZfePEN 

(nicely) 

NAGY 

(great) 

NAGYON 

(greatly) 

PIROS 

(red) 

PIROSAN 

(“redly") 

GYENGE 

(weak) 

GYENGEN 

(weakly) 

J6 

(good) 

J(3L 

(well) 

TANULATLAN( ignorant) 
MAGYAR (Hungarian) 

TANULATLANUL(ignorantly) 

MAGYARUL (Hungarian) 

ANGOL 

(English) 

ANGOLKENT 

(as an Englishman) 

EMBER 

(man.human) 

EMBERKfeNT 

(per man) 

EMBER TELEN( inhuman) 

EMBERTELENt)L( inhumanly) 


Note :-KENT when added to a noun means "as" 

-K&NT when added to an adverb means "per” 

The adverbial suffix -UL, -UL is usually not used in 
colloquial Magyar^ especially after suffixes meaning “without”. 
For example: 

SZAKADATLAN(UL)ESETT AZ ES(5 (the rain fell ceaselessly, 

without pause)_ 


OTHER KIND OF ADVERBS 

(4) The postposition MIATT (because of,on account of) 
answers the question MI&?T?(why?) . MI 0KB<5L? (for what cause?) 


For example: 










- 108 - 


BETEGSfex MIATT MARADOK ITTHON (I stay home because of illness) 

The postposition VfiGETT (for the purpose of) answers 
the question MI c6lbOL? MI VEGETT? (for what purpose?). For 
example: 

SZ(5RAK0ZAS VfSGETT MARADOK ITTHON (I stay home for the purpose 

of amusement) 

The suffix -&RT is first of all an adverb of reason, 
but in everyday language it is often used to express 
cause when talking about a sentence or punishment. For 
example: 


LOpIs^MIATT^tIltIk El/ he was sentenced for (because of) theft) 

Purpose may be also expressed by the infinitive. For 

example: 


SZ0RAKOZNI MEGYttNK A MOZIBA (we go to the show (in order) to 

amuse ourselves) 



(5) The suffix -NAK, -NEK answers the question KINEK A 
R&SZERE? KINEK A SZAMARA?(for whom?),MINEK A R£sz£RE? MINER 
A SZAmARA? (for what?).For example: 

J(3 BORNAK NEM KELL c£g£r ("for good wine no slen is needed") 

("good merchandise speaks for itself" 
ONNEK HOZTAM EZT A VIRAGOT (for you I brought this flower) 

Note: -NAK, -NEK ("to something") is also the suffix 
of the possessive attribute. (In this usage, however, there 
is always a possessive personal suffix on the possession.) 













- 109 - 


(6) The suffix -VAL, -VEL answers the questions MIVEL? 
(with what?) , KIVEL?(with whom?), MIN? (on what?), KINEK A 
SEGITSfeGfYEL?(with the help (contribution) of whom?), MINEK 
A SEGITSEGEVEL? (with the help of what?), KI ALTAL? (by whom?), 
MI ALTAL? (by what?), KINEK A TARSASAgABAN? (in the company 
of whom?)• For example: 


CSAK SZEMtlVEGGEL LATOK 

(I 

can see only with (the help 


of) glasses) 

VELE K0LDOF EL A LEVELET 

(i 

send the letter with him) 

Altala Ozenem 

(i 

send the message by him) 

VELE J(3L iRZEM MAGAMAT 

(in his company I feel well) 

h±GY J(3BAN VELUK 

(be 

friendly with them) 


In colloquial Magyar the suffix -TUL, -Tt)L is often 
used instead of -VAL, -VEL. For example: 

A MACSKA SZORCSTOL, BOROSTtJL MEGETTE A PATKANYT (the cat ate 

the rat. hide and hair (com¬ 
pletely) ) 

(7) The suffix -SZOR. -SZER, -SZOR answers the questions 
HANYSZOR? HANYADSZOR? (how many times?). When added to the 
cardinals, it expresses "-times", and, when added to the 
ordinals without -IK expresses "the ...th time". (Except: 
"the first time"). For example: 

(three times he read it) 

(many times he visited him) 

(for the fifth time I found him 
at home) 


hAromszor OLVASTA EL 
S0KSZ0R LATOGATTA MEG 
GtOdszor talAltam OTTHON 









- 110 - 


(8) The suffix -NAL, -NfiL answers the questions 
KIN£l (SZEBB.T5BB.J0BB,etc.)? (more than who?), MINEL? 

(more than what?). For example: 

JULIA SZEBB MARISKAnAL (Julia is prettier thaiMary) 

5 MAGASABB NALA (he is taller than he is) 

MINDENKINEL TOBB PENZE VAN (he has more money then anyone) 

Nttte: MIN&L is written with one "n 11 , MENN&L is written 
with two *n n 9 m . 

(as big as possible) 

(as soon as possible) 


MINfcL NAGYOBB 
MENN^L NAGYOBB 

MIN^L ELOBF 
MENN&L ELOBB 


(9) The suffixes -VAL, -VEL and -SZOR, -SZER, -SZ5R 
answer also the question MENNYTVEL(SZEBB,JOBB.TOBB)? • 

(by how much (prettier,better,more,etc.)?). For example: 

MARIA SOKKAL SZEBB MINT 5 (Mary is much prettier than she) 

EZ A BOR K&TSZER DRAgABB (this wine is twice as expensive) 
EGY LABBAL MAGASABB MINT 5 (he is taller than she by one foot) 


(10) The adverb of degree answers the question MENNYIRE? 
(to what degree?). For example: 


NAGYON MELEG VAN 

(it is very hot) 

ELfcG j<5 diAk 

(he is a good enough student) 

MEGLEHETOSEN NEH&Z NYELV 

(comparatively difficult language) 












- Ill 


Note: KEVESBB& (less than) is also an adverb of degree# 
and is written with two ,, b ,, s because it is based on the 
comparative degree: KEVESEBB-V&. 

(H) There are many other kinds of adverbs . Such as: 

(a) the suffix of origin, -BflL, -BOL (out of.from 
something). For example: 

KUTYAB(3L NEM LESZ SZALONNA (bacon never comes from a dog) 

(b) the suffix -VA« -VE (to become.turn into)• For 
example : 

A VIZ GCZZE VALT (the water turned into steam) 

(c) the postposition of condition. For example: 

ROSSZ IDO ESET&N NEM MEGYUNK FttRfiDNI (in case of bad weather 

we are not going swimming) 

The objects of certain Magyar verbal constructions 

take different suffixes. It is impossible to give a very 

helpful order concerning these suffixes, but it is worth 

noting that many of these Magyar verbal constructions correspond 

to English constructions consisting 

verb - suffix preposition - object 

Some of these are: 

(d) the suffix -BAN, -BEN (in). For example: 

HISZEK VALAMIBEN (I believe in something) 

BIZOM VALAMIBEN (I trust in something) 

kETELKEDEM VALAMIBEN (I doubt something) 

( MORE) 













112 


b6velkedem valamiben 

RfeSZESOLGK VALAMIBEN 
BUNGS VAGYOK VALAMIBEN 
HIBAS VAGYDK VALAMIBEN 
RfeSZES VAGYOK VALAMIBEN 
ARTATLAN VAGYOK VALAMIBEN 


(I have plenty of something) 
(I share in something) 

(I am guilty of something) 

(I am at fault in something) 
(I participate in something) 
(I am innocent of something) 


(e) the suffix -N, -ON, -EN, -ON (on)• For example: 


BOSSZANKODIK VALAMIN (he is mad over* something) 

SAJNALKOZIK VALAKIN (he Is sorry for someone) 

SZANAKOZIK VALAKIN (he is sorry for someone) 

CSOIALKOZIK VALAMIN (he is amazed at something) 


(f) the suffix -HOZ, -HEZ, -HlZ (to) .For example: 


RAGASZKODIK VALAMIHEZ (he clings to something) 

VONZGDIK VALAKIHEZ (he is attracted towards someone) 

HASONLG VALAMIHEZ (it is similar to something) 


Sometimes two suffixes may be Interchanged in a 
construction with no change of meaning. This is common 
in the use of -HOZ, -HEZ, -HOZ and -RA, -RE. For example: 


HASONLIT VALAKIHEZ 
HASONLIT VALAKIRE 


(he is similar to someone ) 


Sometimes two suffixes will give two different 
meanings. For example: 


TORI A FEjfiT VALAMIN 
TGRI a FEJfer VALAMIBEN 
RESZKET VALAKlfeRT 
RESZKET VALAKITOL 


(he is concentrating on something) 
(“he is ‘cooking up* some mischief”) 
(he trembles for someone) 

(he trembles for fear of someone) 


*) because of 
















CHART OF ADVERBS 


KIND 

QUESTION 

EXAMPLE 

Adverb of place 

where? 
from where? 
to where? 

in which direction? 
how far? 

ITT van. 

budapestrOl jott. 

A haz MELLE ment. 

JOBBRA forduljon 

A KAPUIG menjen. 

Adverb of time 

when? 

since when? 
from what time? 
by what time? 
how long? 

TEGNAP irt^m. 

N&GY NAPJA esik. 

Egy ora 6TA varok. 
HOLNAPRA legyen itt. 

Ket <5ra HOSSZAT varjon. 

Adverb of manner 

how? 

in what manner? 
in what condition? 

GYORSAN menjen oda. 
HABZSOLVA evett. 
NYOMORUSAGOSAN elt• 

Adverb of cause 
and reason 

why? 

for what purpose? 
for what reason? 

Betegseg MIATT nem ;jott. 
Szprakozas VtGETT jdtt. 
AZERT jott.hogy lasson. 

Adverb of 

provision 

for what? 
for whom? 

Jo BORNAK,nem kell ceger, 
ONNEK hoztarn ezt is. 

Adverb of means 

with what? 
on what? 

with the help of,• 
whom or what? 
by whom? 
by what? 

in the company of 
whom or what? 

SZEMUVEGGEL latok. 

KOCSIN jdttern. 

BC)TTAL jarok. 

GEPPEL dolgozom. 

ALTALA iizentem. 

VILIAM sujtotta fa. 

VELE jattem. 

Whiskyt kerek SZdDAVAL; 

Adverb of number 

how many times? 
the f, how manyeth” 
time? 

HAROMSZOR olvasta. 
ST6DSZOR sem lattam. 

Adverb of compa¬ 
rison 

more then who? 
more than what? 

Szebb M&RlANAL. 

R<5zsAML is szebb. 

Adverb of 

measure 

how much (better)? 

SOKKAL szebb. 

Adverb of degree 

to what degree? 

NAGYON meleg van. 

Other adverbs 

























CHAPTER V 


THE ATTRIBUTE 


Words called "attribute" modify other words in terms 
of quality,quantity, and possession. Magyar attributes 
correspond to both adjectives and adverbs in English. 

THE ATTRIBUTE OF QUALITY 

The attribute of quality answers the questions MILYEN? 
MIFfiLE? MINO? (what kind?), MELYIK? (which one?), MEKKORA? 
(how big?) • It can be used in two ways : 

(a) In front of the word it modifies.without a suffix. 

m 

For example: 

MELEG LEVEST EVETT (he ate hot soup) 

MAGYAR KATONAT LATOTT (he saw a Hungarian soldier) 

NAGY EMBERR& LETT (he became a great man) 


(b) After, and with the suffix as, the word it 
modifies. For example : 


LEVEST EVETT,MELEGET (he ate soup,warm) 

KATONAT LATOTT,MAGYART (he saw a soldier.Hungarian) 

EMBERBE LETT,NAGGYA (he became a man, great) 











- 115 - 


One word can have more than one attribute. For example: 


MELEG, J<3 jS(3Z0TT LEVEST EVETT (he ate hot .good, salted soup) 
NAGY, DEREK, J0RAVAIX5 EMBERRfl LETTChe became a great,big,and 

good man) 

In such instances commas or conjunctions separate the 
attribute. Rut no comma or conjunction is used if one 
attribute is the attribute of another. For example: 

KIVAK5 KfjPZETTSfojfj DIAK (excellent(ly) trained student) 

KISItERETU CIPO* * (small size(d./ shoes) 


THE ATTRIBUTE OF QUANTITY 


The attribute of quantity answers the questions: 

HANY?(how many?), MENNYI? (how much?), HANYADIK? (which 
number in a series?).Like the attribute of quality, it has no 
suffix when it is in front of the word it. modifies, but when 

It stands after it, it takes on the same suffix as the word 

it modifies. 

Note: If the attribute of quantity is a numeral, then 
the word it modifies is always in the singular. For example: 

SOK KCNYV (many books(s) 

SZiiZ KCNYV ( one hundred book( s) 

NfiHANY KCNYV (a fe„ book(s) 

In most instances the attribute of quantity is a 
numeral, but it can also be a noun. For example: 


*) The T erms KIS (little) and Kfer (two)are used only when they 
stand in front of the word they modify. Otherwise they are 
KIC3I or KICSINY, and KETTO. 











116 


EGY CS0W5 PfilNZ 
MENNYI KCNYV 


(a great sum of money) 

(what a great number of book( s) 


THE ATTRIBUTE OF POSSESSION 


The attribute of possession as a modifier of the 
possession, identifies the owner . And we must discuss not 
only the attribute but the noun it modifies; for in the 
possessive construction, both the attribute and the noun it 
modifies (the "possession") receive suffixes. For example; 


AZ EMBERNEK A KABATJA 
AZ ASZTALNAK A LABA 


(the men's coat, "there is a 
coat to the man") 

(the table's leg, "there is a 
leg to the table) 


However, when the attribute precedes the noun, it 
usually does not take the suffix• For example: 


AZ EMBER KABATJA 
AZ ASZTAL LABA 


(the man's coat) 
(the table's leg) 


If the possessor is indicated by a personal pronoun, it 
never takes a suffix. (Note: 0^ is the only 3rd person form 
used in this construction. It is here both singular and 
plural.) For example : 


AZ &N HAZAM 
AZ 0 HAZA 
AZ 0 HAZUK 


(my house) 
(his house) 
(their house) 















117 


The possessive attribute always takes the suffix 
-NAK, -NEK in the following cases: 

(a) When the noun precedes the possessive attribute. 
For example: 

HAZA AZ EMBERNEK (house of the man) 

LilBil AZ ASZTALNAK (leg of the table) 

(b) If the attribute modifies a noun which itself is 
used as a possessive attribute. For example: 

AZ TT!3t;n K/lZANAK AZ AJTAJA (the door of the house of the 

man) 

(c) If any word stands between the attribute and 
the noun ( even if it is only an article)• For example: 

AZ T -1 BEfiREK A HAZA (the man's house) 

AZ ASZTALNAI van UBA (the tabl^ has a leg) 

(d) If the attribute is a demonstrative interrogative, 
or relative pronoun. For example: 


ENNSK A HAZA 

(his (her,its) 

house) 

ANNAIC A HAZA 

(his (her,its) 

house) 

TJGYaNENNEK A HaZA 

(the same man* 

s house) 

KINEK A HAZA? 

(whose house?) 


















- 118 - 


The personal suffix of the possession. 


In the possessive construction the "possession" 
always has a suffix. This suffix is either singular or 
plural. For example: 


AZ EMBER HAZA (the man's house) one house 

AZ EMBER HAZAI (the man's houses) more houses 

AZ EN HAZAM (my house) one house 

AZ &N HAZAIM (my houses) _ more houses 

The possessive suffix also identifies the possessor 
as 1st person singular, and 2nd person singular.etc• See 
page 64: Possessive Pronouns • 

Note: The singular noun remains singular, when the 
possessors are plural. For example: 


AZ EMBEREK HAZA (the men's house) 

SOK EMBER HAZA (many men's house) 


However, when using -NAK, -NEK possessive form the 
noun can be either singular or plural. For example : 


AZ EMBEREKNEK VOLT HAZUK' 

AZ EMBEREKNEK VOLT HAZA (each of the men had a house) 

)("the men had a house") 

VOLT HAZUK AZ EMBEREKNEK 
VOLT HAZA AZ EMBEREKNEK 


Caution: the -E, -fil possessive suffix ordinarily is 
found only when the possessor follows the attribute. E.g: 


EZ A HAZ AZ EMBERE (this house is the man's) 


In this sentence EMBERE is not an attribute, but a 
predicate. (See also page 64 "Possessive Pronouns".} 

















THE FUNCTIONS OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH 


PARTS OF SPEECH 

FUNCTION IN A SENTENCE 

Verb 

predicate: On most magyar konyvet OLVAS, 

Noun 

predicate: Ap£m KATONA. 

subject: APAm katona, 

object: On KONYVET olvas. 

adverb: JuNIUSBAN lesz a vizsga, 

attribute: On most MAGYAR konyvet olvas. 

Adjective 

predicate: A magyar nyelv SZEP. 
adverb: GYORSAN fut. 
attribute: SZEP kdnyvet olvas* 

Numeral: 

/ 

predicate: Ez osszesen TIZ. 
adverb: OtODSZORRE se j8tt el, 
attribute: SZAZ forintja van. 

Pronoun: 

see: Noun 

Adjective according to what it replaces 
Numeral 

Article: 

belongs to the noun,therefore is not 

considered as a separate "part of 
sentence" 

Adverb: 

predicate: ITT a tavasz, 
adverb: £n ODA megyek. 

Conjunction: 

Is not part of the sentence. 

Interjection: 

Is not part of the sentence. 



















- 120 



THE FUNCTION OF PARTS OF SENTENCE 

PARTS OF 
SENTENCE 

CAN BE A 

Predicate 

verb: On konyvet OLVAS. 

noun: Apam KATONA. 

adjective: A magyar ny$lv SZfiP. 

numeral: Ez dsszesen TIZ. 

pronoun: as noun,adjective,and numeral* 

adverb: ITT a tavasz* 

/ 

compound: VAN,LESZ,MARAD,MULIK verbs and 
a substitute: A madar TARKA V0LT*Te is 

diAe leszel. 

subordinate clause: AHANY HAz,annyi szokas* 

Subject: 

noun: APAM katona* 

other words used as nouns:MELEG van. 

subordinate clause: AKINEK FEGYVERE VAN, 
az harcol. 

Object: 

noun: On KONYVET olvas. 

other words used as nouns: EZT olvassa. 

subordinate clause: On tudja,hogy MIT OLVAS* 

Adverb: 

/ 

noun: JUNIUSBAN lesz a vizsga. 
adjective: GYORSAN fut. 
numeral: 0T0DSZ0RRE sem jott el. 
pronoun: as noun,adjective,numeral, 
adverb: On OTT olvas kdnyvet. 

subordinate clause: AHOL NINCS,ott ne keress. 

Attribute: 

noun: On most PALIVAL megy. 
adjective: SZf.P konyvet olvas. 
numeral: SZAZ forintja van. 
pronoun: as noun,adjective,numeral 
adverb: MESSZE foldre megy. 
article: EGY konyv. A kdnyv. 

subordinate clause: Annyi konyvet kap, 

AMENNYIT AKAR. 




















PART FOUR 
THE WORD ORDER 















. 
















■ 


..- v":'- • V ' ' 


























122 - 


WORD ORDER 


In Magyar the order of v/ords Is dependent on how much 
emphasis we wish to give to a certain part of the sentence . 

The words in a sentence are divided into groups by emphasis 
^ and each group begins with an emphasized word. For example: 


VAN P^NZE .DE NEM AD (he has money, but will not give) 
MELEG VAN FLORIDABAN (it is warm in Florida) 


The most important word in a sentence is the predicate. 
All the other words are grouped (related) to it, and the 
most stressed word usually stands in front of the predicate. 
For 


Generally* we can speak of two kinds of sentences 

depending on the order of words: 

( 1 ) Th e unemphatlc sentence : no part of which receives 
special emphasis. The word order of such sentence is similar 
> to that of its English euqivalent. For example: 


A KUTYA UGAT 

(the dog barks) 

A HAZ NAGY 

(the house is big) 


example: 


TEGNAP ITT VOLTAM 

(I was here yesterday) 

TEGNAP VOLTAM ITT 

(yesterday I was here) 

ITT VOLTAM TEGNAP 

("here I was yesterday") 



















- 123 - 


(2) The emphatic sentence . The general rule is that the 
emphatic part of the sentence is placed first. For example: 


VAN PfeNZE 

(he has money) 

PISZKOS AZ OHPA 

(his nose is dirty) 

VEGYE FEL A KONYVET 

(pick up the book) 

MEGVAN A PENZF.? 

(do you have your money?) 

MEGMONDOM AZ IGAZAT 

(I will tell the truth) 


The interrogative word —E (I wonder.whether ) should be 
attached to the predicate. If the predicate is a verb it is ^ 
attached to the verb and not to its prefix. For example: 

ELJON-E HOZZAM? (I wonder whether you will come 

x to my house) 

LATTA-E AZ UJ KOCSIT? (I wonder whether you saw the 

new car) 

MEGTETTE-E AMIT MONDTAM? (I wonder whether you have done 

what I said) 

However, when there is no predicate in the sentence, 

-E may be attached to the emphatic word. For example: 

NEK MEGYEK EL. NEM-E? (I shall not go. I wonder if you 

don*t go) 

MEGTESZEM. MEG-E? (I will do it. Keally?) 

The conjunction IS (also,too) is sometimes used as 
a negative word. If the sentence is opened by a verb followed 
by IS the affirmative sentence becomes negative . For example 5 

TUD IS MAGA VALAMIT i (you know nothing whatever of the matter 

which means:"why do you pretend to knoi 
when you do not?” ) 























- 124 - 

GONDOLT IS 0 ARRAl 

(he did not think of that 
which organs : (I I am sure he did 
not think of it, so it is of 
no use trying to persuade me 
to the contrary”) 

In these cases 

IS stands always after the predicate„ 


*** For VERBAL PREFIXES see page 77» *** 
*** For ORDER OF NAMES see page 49. *** 





























- 125 - 


INDEX 


A* AZ (article) 74-7? 

-A, -E (possessive) 64-65,116 
-A (adv.of place) 99 
active verbs 21 
active voice 20,21 
address 50,59-60 
(formal) 60 
(informal) 59-60 
adjectives 
(comparative) 53-56 
(defined) 16 
(formed from verbs) 48 
(positive degreed 53-54 
(types of) 55 
(use of) 73»119,120 
adverbs 

[chart of) 113 
(compound) 87 

(defined) 17,76-80,86,88,97 
(derivation of) 76-80 
'independent) 76-77,97,98 
of cause) 97,107,113 
of comparison) 97,108,113 
of condition) 111 
of degree) 97,110,113 
of foreign names) 101 
of Magyar place names)102 

of manner)97,106,107,113 
of means) 97,109,113 
of measure) 97,110,113 
of number) 97,109,113 
(of origin) 111 
(of place) 97-102,113, 

(of provision)97,109,113 
(of reason) 97,107,113 
(of result) 111 
(of time) 97,103-106,111 
(permanent) 111-112 
(postposition) 76-77 
(use of) 119,120 


agglunative character of the 
language 4 

AHANY # AHANYADIK(pronoun) 70 
-AI, -El (possessive) 64-65 
-AK (plural) see: -K 
AKAR Ipronoun) 71 
AKI (pronoun) 69 
AKK0RA (pronoun) 67 
-AL (inchoative) 43 
-AL, -AL (build verbs) 45 
ALATT,AL6L (adv) 98,99,101 
ALLANDCSAN (adv) 105 
-AL0M, -ELEM (noun) 52 
alphabet 5,13 
ALSZIK see: ALUDNI 

Altai (adv) 109 

ALUDNI (conjug.of) 30 

AMA (pronoun) 66 

AMAZ {pronoun) 66 

AMDE (conn) 8l 

AMEKK0RA (pronoun) 70 

AMELY,AMELYIK (pronoun) 69 

AMENNYI (pronoun) 70 

AMI (pronoun) 69 

AMILYEN,AMINS (pronoun) 70 

-AM0DIK (inchoative) 43 

-AN see: -N 

-ANIX5, -END5 (participle) 33 
ANNYI (pronoun) 67 
article 17,74-75 
-As, -ES (noun) 47 
-ASZ, -ASZAT, -ESZ, -ESZET 52 
-ASZAT see: -ASZ 
-AT, -ET (causative) 44 
(noun) 47 

-ATIK, -ETIK (possessive) 44 
attribute 86,80,114-118 
(compound) 87 
(of quality) 115 
(of quantity) 114 



- 126 - 


attribute (eont.) 

(of possession) 116 
(use of) 119,120 
AVAGY (conj) 82 
AZ (article) see; A 
AZ (pronoun) 66,10? 
AZAZ (conj) 82 
AZELOTT (adv) 10? 

AZERT (conj) 82 
-AZIK (builds verbs) 4? 
AZONBAN (conj) 81 
AZUTAN (adv) 10? 


B 

-B see: -BB 

-BA, -BE (adv) 100,101 
-BAN, -BEN (adv)60,100,101 
(permanent adv) 111 
BAR (conj) 82 
BAR- (pronoun) 71 
-BB (ad j ect i ve) ?3 - ?4, 56 
-BE see: -BA 
BEL(jL.BEHT,etc(adv) 98 
-BEN,see: -BAN 
BENT seej BELUL 

(5L, -BOL (adv.of origin)111 
adv.of place) 100,101 
-BOL see: -BdL 
borrowing words 3 
BURI-BUrtl (interj) 83 


c,cs 

cardinals ?7-?8,109 
CI-CI-CX (interj) 83 
conditional mood 26,27,28 
conjugation (examples) 3?-42 
see also: verbs 
conjunctions (defined) 18,81 
(use of) 81-82,119,120 
consonants 8 
(double) 10 
(voiced,voiceless) 11 
CSAKHOGY (conj) 81 
-CSKA see: -KA 
-CSKE see: -KE 
CSUHAJ l (interj) 83 


D 

-D (forms intr.vp-> v bs)see:-UL 
-D (personal suffix) 30,32, 
37-42 

-D (possessive) 64 
dates 104 

days (of the week) 104 
(parts of) 104 
DE (conj) 81 
definite conjugation 2? 
-DEG&L (frequentative) 43 
-DEL, -DES (frequentative) 43 
DELBEN (adv) 104 
DELELOTT (adv) 104 
DELUTAN (adv) 104 
-DES see: -DEL 
digraph 10,12 
-DIK Ibuilds verbs) 46 
(ordinal) 57-58 
DOLGOZNI (conjugation of)36 
-DtJL (instantaneous) 43 


E,£ 

-E? (interrogative) 123 
-E, -E (adv) 9? „ 

-E (possessive) 65,116,118 

-ED (personal suffix) see: -D 

-ED (inchoative) 43 

EGY (article) 75 

EGYIK (prounoun) 72-73 

EGYMAS (adv) 63 

-El see: -AI 

EJFELKOR (adv) 104 

EJJEL (adv) 104 

EJSZAKA (adv) 104 

-EK (plural) see: -K 

-&K (added to names) 50 

-EK, -&L (noun) 47 

EKKORA (pronoun) 67 

-EL see: -& 

-ELEM see: -ALOM 
EL3L (adv) 98 

EIOL,ELOTT,etc. (adv.of place) 
99,101 

(adv,of time) 103,105 
ELLENBEN (conj) 8l 
-EM (personal suffix) see: -M 


- 127 - 


EME see: AMA 

-EN see: -N 

EN (pronoun) 59-61 

-ENDO see: -AND(3 

EMEK KGVETKEZTfcBEN (conj)82 

ENNELFOGVA (conj) 82 

ENNI (conjug.of) 41 

ENYEM (pronoun) 63 

ENNYI (pronoun) 67 

-ERT (adv.of reason) 108 

(permanent adv) 112 
£S (conj) 81 
-ES see: -AS 
ESTE (adv) 104 
-£sz see: -ASZ 
ESZERINT (coni) 82 
-flSZET see: -ASZAT 
-ET see:-AT 

-ETEK (personal suffix) see: 

-TOK 

(possessive) see:-ATIK 
EZ (pronoun) 66,105 
-EZ Ibuilds verbs) 45 
EZELOTT (adv) 105 
EZUTAN (adv) 105 


F 

FAZNI (conjug.of) 30, 
FEL,FELE,FELETT,etc.(adv)98, 
99,101 

FENT see: FEL 
F(3L see: FEL 
fractions 58 

future tense 29,35-42,105 
(participle) 33 


G,GY 

-GAT (frequentative) 43 
gender (lack of) 2 
gerund 34,35-42,76-80 
-GET see: -GAT 
GYI| (interj) 83 


H 

HA, HABAR (conj) 82 
HABAR see: HA 
HAJi (interj) 83 


HAJNALBAN (adv) 104 
HAJRAJ (interj) 83 
HANEM (conj) 8 l, 

HANY? HANYADIK?( pronoun) 69 
(attribute) 115 
HANYADIK? see: HANY? 

HAT (conj) 82 
HATUL (adv) 98 
HESS I (interj) 83 
-HEZ see: -HOZ 
HINNI (conjugation of) 40 
HISZ.HISZEN (conj) 82 
H(5J (interj) 83 
HOGY (adv) see: HOGYAN 
(conj) 82 

HOGYAN? HOGY? (adv) 10 6 
HOGYNE (conj) 82 
HOL? (adv) 98-101 
HOLNAP (adv) 105 
HOLNAPUTAN (adv) 10? 

HOLOTT (conj) 82 
HONNAN? (adv) 98-101 
HOSSZATT (adv) 102-103 
HOVA? (adv) 98-101 
-HOZ, -HEZ, -HOZ (permanent 
adverb) 112 

(adv.of place) 100,101 
-HOZ see: -HOZ 


I 

-I (possessive) 63-65,118 
-IA tpersonal suffix) 32 
-ID (possessive) see: -D 
IDE (adv) 98,101 
-IE (personal suffix) 32 
-IG (adv.of place) 100-101 
(adv.of time) 103,106 
IHAJi (interj) 83 
-IK verbs 30,36,41,42 
K (builds verbs) 45 
possessive) 64-65 
quantity terms) 57 
ILY,ILYEN,etc.(adv) 67 
-IM see: -M 
imperative mood 27 
Cpolite) 27 
inchoative verbs 43 
indefinite conjugation 25,35*42 
indicative mood 26,35-42 
infinitive 32,35-42,108 
(indefinite subject) 94 


- 128 - 


-INK sees -NK 
INNER (adv) 98,101 4 

INT'TI (conjugation of) 42 
instantaneous verbs 43 
-INT (instantaneous) 43 
interjections(defined) 18,83 
(use of) 119,120 
interrogative sentence 
(intonation of) 14 
(word order of) 123 
intonation 14 

intransitive verbs 19*35-36 
-IOK (personal suffix) 32 
-lOK (personal suffix) 32 
IS (as negative) 123-124 
Lconj) 78.81 
-IT (builds verbs) 46 
(transitive verbs) see: -T 
I-THEE form 2 5,37-39,41-42 
-ITEK see: -ITO* 

-IT0K,-ITEK(possessive) 64-6? 


J 

-JA (objective) 96 
(possessive) 64-65,116 
-JAI,-JEI (possessive)64-65.^ 
JAJi (interj) 83 ill 

-JAT (possessive) 96 
jATSZANl(conjugation of) 30 
-JE see: -JA 
-JEI see: -JAI 
-JET see: -JAT 
JtfLLEHET (conj) 82 
JONNI (conjugation of) 36 
-JU,-J0(possessive) 64-65 
-Jt) see: -JU 


K 


-K (plural) 51,63 
(possessive) 64-65,116 
-KA,-KE,-SKA.-SKE,-CSKA,-CSKE 
(diminutive) 52 
-KE see: -KA 

-KED (reflexive) see:-KOD 
(frequentative) 43 
-KfiNT,-KEP,-KEPEN (adv.of 
manner) 107 
(adv.of measure) 107 


-KEP see: -KENT 

-KEPEN see: -KENT 

KERNI (conjugation of) 37 

-KSZIK see: -KOZIK 

KI? (pronoun) 68 

KIKI (pronoun) 72 

KINT,KIVtJL (adv) 98 , 

-KODIK.-KSDIK,-KODIK (builds 
verbs) 44,46 
-KOR (adv) 106 

-KOZIK,-KEZIK,-K(3ZIK (reflexive 
suffixes) 44 
-KOD see: -KOD 
-KODIK see: -KODIK 
KOVETKEZESKEPEII (conj) 82 
KdVETKEZOLEG (conj) 82 
-K5ZIK see: -KOZIK 
KOZ0TT see: KOZT 
K(3ZT,K0ZC)TT,etc.(adv) 99 


L 

-L (adv.of manner) 107 
(adv.of place) 99 
(builds ve rbs) 45 
LE,LENT,etc.(adv)98,101 
LEO- (adjective) 54-56 
LEGES- (adjective) 54-56 
LENNI (conjugation of) 35 
(future of) 29,35 
LENT see: LE 
letters,see:alphabet 
(capital) 49 
-LIK (builds verbs) 46 


M 

-M (personal suffix)24-32, 3 5-42 
(changes for -K) 31 
(possessive) 64 ,116 
MA (adv) 10 5 

MAG- (reflexive pronoun) 62 
MAGA,MAGUK (pronoun) 59- 6 l 
-MANY, -MENY (noun) 48 
MASFEL (numeral) 58 
MASIK (pronoun) 72-73 
MEDDIG? (adv) 103,106 
MEG- (prefix) 79 
MEG...AZELOTT (adv) 105 
MEG...AZUTAN (adv) 105 


- 129 - 


MEGETT see: MOGOTT 
MEGIS ,MEGSE,etc# vconi) 8l 
MEG...IS (coni) 81 
MEGPEDIG (coni) 82 
MEKKORA? (pronoun) 68 
(attribute) 114 
MELLETT,MELLOL,etc.(adv)99 t 
101 

ME LX - IK? (pronoun) 68 
(attribute) 114 
MENNEL (adv) 110 
MENNI (conjugation of) 36 
-MENY see: -MANY 
MENNYI? (pronoun) 69 
(attribute) 11? 

MENNYI IDEJE VAN? 103-104 
MENNYIRE? (adv) 110 
MERT (coni) 82 
MI (pronoun) ?9-6l 
MI? vinterrogative) 68 
MIATT (adv) 107-108 
MIERT? (adv) 107-108 
MIFELE?see: MILYEIT? 

MIKEP (conj) 82 
MIKOR? (adv) 103-10? 
MIKORRA? (adv) 103 
HIKORTOL FOGVA? (adv) 103 
MILY?MILYEN?etc.(pronoun) 68 
(attribute) 114 
MILYEIT ALLAPOTBAN? (adv) 10 6 
MILYEN HELYZETBFN?(adv) 106 
MIND (quantity term) 96 
MINDAMELLETT (conj) 8l 
MINDAZONALTAL (conj) 81 
MINDEN (pronoun) 72 
MINDIG (adv) 10? 

MI MODON? (adv) 106 
MINEL? (adv) 110 
MINO? see: MILY? 

MINT (conj) ?3»82 
MINTHA (conj) 82 
MINTHOGY (coni) 82 
MINTSEM (coni) 82 
MI OKBOL? (adv) 107-108 
MIC3TA? (adv) 103,106 
MIVEL (coni) 82 
mood of the action 23,26 
(chart of) 31 
MOST (adv) 10? 

MOGOTT,M5GE,etc.(adv) 99,101 
MULT see: past 
MULVA (adv) 10? 


N 

-N, -AN, -EH(ad'v.of manner) 107 
-N,-ON,-EN,-ON (adv.of place) 
00,101 

adv.of time) 104 
pe rmanent adv) 112 
-NAK, -NEK (adv) 108 
(possessive) 117-118 
-NAL,-NEL(adv.of place)100,101 
(adv.of comparison) ? 3,110 
names 49 -?0 

(articles used before) 74 
NAPOKBAN (adv) 10? 

NAPPAL (adv) 104 
-Nfi (Mrs.) ?0 
negative (of VAN) 91 
(sentence) 78,123-124 
NEHOGY (coni) 82 
-NEK see: -NAK 
-NG (frequentative) 43 
-NEL see: -NAL 

NEMELY,NEMELYIK (pronoun)72-73 
NE-NE-NE (intern*) 83 
-NI (infinitive) 32,3?-42 
NINCS,NINCSSNEK 91 
-NK (possessive) 64-6? 
NOiNOSZA! (interi) 83 
NOHA (coni) 82 
noun (as attribute) 11 ? 
(defined) 16.49,73 
(common) 49,?1,92 
(formed) 47.?2,32 
(possessive) 117,118 
(proper) 49,92 
(use of) 119,120 
numerals (defined) 17,?7-58 
(use of) ?7-?8,73,109,ll?,119, 
120 


0,6 

(5j (interi) 83 
-(5(participle) 32,3?-42 
obiect 8?,88,9?-96 
(compound) 87 
(definite) 24 
(direct) 19.?1 
(indefinite) 24 
(person of) 23,24-26 
(possessive) 9? 
(suffixless) 96 


- 130 - 


-0D see: -D 
ODA (adv) 98.101 
-6DIK.-CDIK (reflexive) 44,4? 
-dDZIK, -GDZIK.-EDZIK 
(reflexive) 44,4? 

OLDALT (adv) 9y 

OLY, OLYAJJ,etc.(adv) 67 

-OK see: -K 

—OM see: —M 

-OH see: -IT 

OIPAN (adv) 98,101 

ordinals 51-58,109 

6 TA (adv) 106 

-OTOK see: -TOK 


0,0 


G (pronoun) 59-61 


■g (participle) 22,35-42 


-OD o-e: -D 
-ODIK see: -ODIK 
-CDZIK see: -GDZIK 
OIC (pronoun) >9-61 
-Oil see: -IT 


-0T(3i: see: -TOK 


predicate (cont.) 

(number of) 91 
(person of) 92 
(use of) 119,120 
prefix of verbs 76-80 
pronomis (declension of)60-6l 
(defined) 17,59 
(demonstrative)59,66-67,73, 

w 

(indefinite) 59,70-73 
(interrogative) 59,68-69*73, 

^objective) 96 
(personal) 22.59-61,73 
(possessive) 59,63,73,116 
(reciprocal) *9,63,73 
(reflexive) ^9,62,73 
(relative) 59,69-70,73,117 
(use of) HQ,120 
pronunciation 2.5-12 
PSZTi (interj) 83 


quantity terms 2,57-58,73,119, 


P 


participle 32,35-42 
parts of speech 15-82 
(function 0f) 119,120 
parts of sentences 85-120 
(chart) 88 

(function of) 119,120 


passive voice 20,22 
past tense 28,35-42,104 
PEDIG (conj) Si 
personal suffix 23-42 
(of possession) 64,118 
PI-PI'-PI (inter j) 83 
plural 5l,64 

possessive (construction) 64, 

fill 1 !? 

(objective of) 96 
(pronoun) 62-65 
postposition 6l,76-77,97,99 
(of condition) 111 
predicate 85.88,89-92,118,122 
(complex) 78-80,89 
(compound) 87 


R 

-RA, -RE (adv.of measure) 110 
(adv.of place) 61,100,101 
(permanent adv) li2 
RAJTA1 (inter 3 ) 83 
-RE see: -RA 
reciproce.l verbs 44 
reflexive verbs 21 
REGGEL (adv) 104 
-REN (ins tantaneous) 43 
RESZERE (adv) 108 
-ROL, -RGL (adv) 100,101 
-ROL see: -R(3L 


S,SZ 

S (conj) 81, 

-S f -U, —U adv) 55 
-3..G, -SEG (noun) 48,52 

SAJ/.T 62. 

SE, Sm (pronoun) 72 
(negative) 81,91 


131 - 


-SEG see: -SAG 
SEJJ SEJHAJI (interj) 83 
SEM see: SE 
sentence (chart of) 88 
(compound) 87 
(emphatic) 123 
(parts of) 8 p 
(simple) 86 
(unemphatic) 122 
SICCi (interj) 83 
-SKA see: -KA 
-SKE see: -KA 
SINCS,SINCSENEK 91 
-S 6 , -SO (adv) 55 
-SO see: -S 6 
SOT (conj) 81 
spelling 2 
(obsolete) 10 
subject 85.88,93-94 
(compound) 87 
(emphatic) 62 
(indefinite) 93 
(number and person of) 23 
(use of) 119,120 
stress 14,78,122 
suffix,added to substantives 
76,80,97-113 
SZAMARA (adv) 108 
-SZER see; -SZ0R 
-SZOR, -SZER, -SZ8R (adv. of 
number) 109 
(adv. of measure) 110 
SZton (conjugation of) 30 
-SZ5R see: -SZOR 
-SZT see: -T 


T,TY 

-T (object) 5l,95 
-T,-TT (obsolete adv) • 102 
(past participle) 33»35-42 
(past tense) 28,35-42 
-T,-fT.-SZT (forms transitive 
verbs) 20 

-TAT, -TET (causative) 44 
-TATIK.-TETIK (passive) 44 
TE (pronoun) 59-61 
TEGNAP.TEGNAPELOTT(adv) 105 
TEHAT (co'nj) 82 
-TEK see: -T0K 
TENNI (conjugation of) 39 


tense see: time 
TENTE...(interj) 83 
-TET see: -TAT 
-TETIK see: -TATIK 
TI (pronoun) 59-61 
TIED (possessive) 63 
TIETEK (possessive) 63 
time of the action 28 
(chart of) 31 
titles 50 / 

-T0K,-TEK,-T(3K (personal 
suffix) 23-42,64 -65 
-T(3L, -TOL (adv.of place) 100 
01 

peramanent adv) 112 
-T(3K see: -T0K 
-TOL see: -TOL 
transitive verbs 19,37-42 
TUDNIILLIK (conj) 82 
-TUL,-TUL (adv) 109 
-TUL see: -TUL 
TUNNI (conjugation of) 30 
TY0I (interj) 83 


U,U 

-U see: -S 
UCCUJ (interj) 83 
UGYAN- (pronoun) 66,67 
UGYANIS (conj) 82 
tTGYHOGY (conj) 82 
TtGYMINT (conj) 82 
UJUJJ (interj) 83 
-UK see: -K 

-UL,-UL,-D (form intransitive 
verbs) 20 
-UL (adv) see: -L 
-UNK (personal suffix) see:-NK 
UTAH (adv) 103,105 


0,0 

—U see: -S 
-UL see:-UL 
-UL (builds verbs) 46 
-UNK see: -NK 


V 


-VA.-VE (adv) 111 
(gerund) 34 

-VAL,-VEL Iadv.of means)6l, 
(adv.of measure) 110 
(time construction) 103 
VALA (pronoun) 70 
VAGY.VAGYIS (oonj) 82 
VAGY,VAGYUNK, etc. (pronoun) 
’TAIN! (conjugation of) 31 


VAN,VANNAK 90,91 
-VAN,-VEF (gerund) '34 
-VANY, -VffflY (noun) 47 
-VE see: -VA 
-VEL see: -VEL 
TTEGETT (adv) 108 
VENNI (conjugation of) 3$ 
-VENY see: -VANY 
verb (active) 21-22 
(building of)43.45-46 
(conjugation of) 23-42 
(defined) 16.19-48 
(derivatives) 34 
(frenuentativeT 43 
(-IK)30,36,41,42 
(inchoative) 4^ 
(instantaneous) 43 
(intransitive) 19,35-36 
(participle of) 32,35-42 
(passive) 21,22,44 
(prefix of) 76-80 
(reciprocal) 45 
(reflexive) 44,22 
(root of) 23 
(transitive; 19,37-42 


verbal adjective see:participle 
verbal adverb see: adverb 
verbal noun see: infinitive 
voice see: active-passive 
109voiced-voiceless see:consonants 
VOLNA 28 
vowels 5 

(back-front)3,7»66 
(long-short) 6 
59 vowel harmony 3.7 
(exceptions of) 8 


W 


word ordef 121 
(of attributes) 114-115 
(of dates) 104 
(of names) 49 
words (compound) 7 
(formed from verbs) 32,47 
(separated) 4,12 


Y 


Y (use of) 10 


Z 

-Z (bnilds verbs) 45 
(frequentative) 43 
-ZIK (builds verbs) 4? 

































































































































































































































































































































































































































































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